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Horses for a Change Inc

EIN 46-3553658 · Esopus, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE QUALITY HORSE BACK RIDING NO MATTER OF INCOME LEVEL OF PARTICIPANT; ASSIST DEDICATED RIDERS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE FUNDS TO PURSUE THE EQUINE DISCIPLINE BY PROVIDING AN ON-SITE EDUCATION TO RIDERS AT REDUCED OR FREE TUITION AND ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO RIDERS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL AND COMPETITION ENTRY FEES FOR OFF-SITE COMPETITIONS; PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH TO LEARN HORSE CARE, RIDING AND SKILLS OF EMPATHY, LEADERSHIP, AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE; PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY BY CONTRACTING WITH ONE OR MORE LICENSED THERAPISTS FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AS WELL AS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH ASSORTED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS; AND PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR ABANDONED HORSES WHERE THEY CAN BE REEDUCATED AS SCHOOL MOUNTS AND BASIC LEVEL SHOW HORSES.

Income
$159,478
Spending
$156,956
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
5
Volunteers
45

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 246% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $156,910 spent. PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE QUALITY HORSE BACK RIDING NO MATTER OF INCOME LEVEL OF PARTICIPANT; ASSIST DEDICATED RIDERS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE FUNDS TO PURSUE THE EQUINE DISCIPLINE BY PROVIDING AN ON-SITE EDUCATION TO RIDERS AT REDUCED OR FREE TUITION AND ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO RIDERS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL AND COMPETITION ENTRY FEES FOR OFF-SITE COMPETITIONS; PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH TO LEARN HORSE CARE, RIDING AND SKILLS OF EMPATHY, LEADERSHIP, AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE; PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY BY CONTRACTING WITH ONE OR MORE LICENSED THERAPISTS FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AS WELL AS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH ASSORTED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS; AND PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR ABANDONED HORSES WHERE THEY CAN BE REEDUCATED AS SCHOOL MOUNTS AND BASIC LEVEL SHOW HORSES. PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE QUALITY HORSE BACK RIDING NO MATTER OF INCOME LEVEL OF PARTICIPANT; ASSIST DEDICATED RIDERS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE FUNDS TO PURSUE THE EQUINE DISCIPLINE BY PROVIDING AN ON-SITE EDUCATION TO RIDERS AT REDUCED OR FREE TUITION AND ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO RIDERS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL AND COMPETITION ENTRY FEES FOR OFF-SITE COMPETITIONS; PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH TO LEARN HORSE CARE, RIDING AND SKILLS OF EMPATHY, LEADERSHIP, AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE; PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY BY CONTRACTING WITH ONE OR MORE LICENSED THERAPISTS FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AS WELL AS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH ASSORTED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS; AND PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR ABANDONED HORSES WHERE THEY CAN BE REEDUCATED AS SCHOOL MOUNTS AND BASIC LEVEL SHOW HORSES.
  2. PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE QUALITY HORSE BACK RIDING NO MATTER OF INCOME LEVEL OF PARTICIPANT; ASSIST DEDICATED RIDERS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE FUNDS TO PURSUE THE EQUINE DISCIPLINE BY PROVIDING AN ON-SITE EDUCATION TO RIDERS AT REDUCED OR FREE TUITION AND ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO RIDERS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL AND COMPETITION ENTRY FEES FOR OFF-SITE COMPETITIONS; PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH TO LEARN HORSE CARE, RIDING AND SKILLS OF EMPATHY, LEADERSHIP, AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE; PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY BY CONTRACTING WITH ONE OR MORE LICENSED THERAPISTS FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AS WELL AS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH ASSORTED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS; AND PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR ABANDONED HORSES WHERE THEY CAN BE REEDUCATED AS SCHOOL MOUNTS AND BASIC LEVEL SHOW HORSES.
  3. PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE QUALITY HORSE BACK RIDING NO MATTER OF INCOME LEVEL OF PARTICIPANT; ASSIST DEDICATED RIDERS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE FUNDS TO PURSUE THE EQUINE DISCIPLINE BY PROVIDING AN ON-SITE EDUCATION TO RIDERS AT REDUCED OR FREE TUITION AND ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO RIDERS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL AND COMPETITION ENTRY FEES FOR OFF-SITE COMPETITIONS; PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH TO LEARN HORSE CARE, RIDING AND SKILLS OF EMPATHY, LEADERSHIP, AND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE; PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY BY CONTRACTING WITH ONE OR MORE LICENSED THERAPISTS FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AS WELL AS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH ASSORTED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS; AND PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR ABANDONED HORSES WHERE THEY CAN BE REEDUCATED AS SCHOOL MOUNTS AND BASIC LEVEL SHOW HORSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.