Windhorse Equine Learning
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BY PROVIDING EXPERIENTIAL AND REFLECTIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH HORSES, WINDHORSE EQUINE LEARNING EMPOWERS YOUTH TO DISCOVER AND REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $703,428
- Spending
- $253,606
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 63
- Highest pay
- $56,925, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 64% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 96% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $169,427 spent. WINDHORSE EQUINE LEARNING PROVIDES EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING PROGRAMS TO YOUTH INGRADES 3-12. WE PROVIDE KIDS AND TEENS WITH EXPERIENTIAL AND REFLECTIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH HORSES, EMPOWERING THEM TO DISCOVER AND REALIZE THEIR FULLPOTENTIAL THROUGH THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH A HORSE. OUR PROGRAMS FACILITATE PERSONALGROWTH, HELP YOUTH BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM, ENHANCE FOCUS, REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY, AND FOSTER SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND AWARENESS THROUGH THE EQUINE/HUMAN BOND. BY BUILDING LIFE SKILLS, COMPETENCIES AND CONFIDENCE, WE CREATE RESILIENT YOUTH WHO CAN SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEIR TEENAGE YEARS AND BECOME LEADERS AMONG THEIR PEERS AND PRODUCTIVE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS AND SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, GIVES YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO DEVELOP PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY. OUR EIGHT LEVELS OF CURRICULUM TEACH LEADERSHIP, RELATIONSHIP/PARTNERSHIP, RESPONSIBILITY, TRUST, EMPATHY, RESILIENCE, AWARENESS AND CONNECTION BY CONSIDERING THE HORSE'S PERSPECTIVE AND NEEDS, AND THEN RELATING IT TO HUMANS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS PRACTICE THESE LEARNED ASSETS WITH THEIR HORSES AS WELL AS WITH THEIR PROGRAM PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS AND INSTRUCTORS.SINCE 2013, WINDHORSE HAS SERVED 850 YOUTH. EVERY YEAR, WINDHORSE CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF YOUTH WE SERVE, AND TO REACH OUT TO DIVERSE POPULATIONS OF YOUTH WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM OUR PROGRAMS. MANY OF THESE YOUTH COME FROM ECONOMICALLYDISADVANTAGED FAMILIES. SINCE 2013, WINDHORSE HAS PROVIDED 304 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $54,508.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.