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Tree House of Greater St Louis

EIN 51-0198939 · Wentzville, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THERAPY, RECREATION, EDUCATION, AND EXPLORATION.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$927,004
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 73%
Employees
26
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$107,943, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $574,656 spent. THERAPY: OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL, SPEECH, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: HIPPOTHERAPY LITERALLY MEANS "TREATMENT WITH THE HELP OF THE HORSE". THIS TERM REFERS TO HOW THERAPY PROFESSIONALS UTILIZE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND CLINICAL REASONING IN THE PURPOSEFUL MANIPULATION OF EQUINE MOVEMENT TO ENGAGE SENSORY, NEUROMOTOR, AND COGNITIVE SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AFFORDANCES OF THE EQUINE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER TREATMENT STRATEGIES, HIPPOTHERAPY IS PART OF A PATIENT'S INTEGRATED PLAN OF CARE. EACH THERAPIST CREATES A SPECIALIZED TREATMENT PLAN FOR THE INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THEIR DISABILITY AND THEIR PERSONAL/THERAPEUTIC GOALS. THERAPY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE MONITORED AND MODIFIED AS NEEDED. (SEE SCHEDULE O)THERAPY: OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL, SPEECH, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (CONTINUED):SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ASSIST AS PART OF THE THERAPY TEAM UNDER PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDE AN INTERACTIVE APPROACH FOR INDIVIDUALS COPING WITH BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES. THIS APPROACH FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUALS INTERACTING WITH HORSES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT FOSTER A MEANINGFUL BOND WITH THE HORSE THAT CAN HELP THE CLIENT IN SELFUNDERSTANDING AND INCREASED INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE. THIS DYNAMIC APPROACH CAN BE UTILIZED TO ADDRESS A VARIETY OF CONCERNS INCLUDING STRESS, ANXIETY, SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, DEPRESSION, TEAM BUILDING, BULLYING, AND IMPROVING SELF-ESTEEM. THERAPY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE MONITORED AND MODIFIED AS NEEDED. SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS MAY ASSIST AS PART OF THE THERAPY TEAM UNDER PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, THE THERAPY PROGRAMS SERVED 62 INDIVIDUALS.
  2. $266,440 spent. ADAPTIVE THERAPEUTIC RIDING: INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FOCUS ON THEIR PERSONAL THERAPEUTIC GOALS AND EVERYDAY LIVING SKILLS THROUGH RIDING, GROUNDWORK, CARE AND MANAGEMENT, UNDERSTANDING AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE HORSE. PA TH CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS FACILITATE THIS SERVICE AND ARE TRAINED TO USE THE HORSE AS A CONDUIT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE THERAPEUTIC GOALS. SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT THE CLIENT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTOR. MORE INDEPENDENT CLIENTS INCREASE THEIR SKILLS OFTEN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. THEY LEARN TECHNIQUES THAT ACCOMMODATE THEIR DISABILITY SO INDEPENDENT HORSE CARE AND MANAGEMENT CAN BE MASTERED. (SEE SCHEDULE O)ADAPTIVE THERAPEUTIC RIDING (CONTINUED):INDIVIDUALS FOCUS ON ADVANCED RIDING SKILLS AND HORSEMANSHIP, WHICH HELPS TO BUILD SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE NEEDED FOR GREATER INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIFE. SOME OF THESE CLIENTS MAY WORK TOWARDS COMPETITION IN SHOW TEAM EVENTS. 35 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN ADAPTIVE THERAPEUTIC RIDING THIS YEAR.
  3. OTHER PROGRAMMING:TH FREEDOM REINS: "TH FREEDOM REINS" IS ALIGNED WITH A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED IN 2007 BY PATH AND THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION TO ASSIST AMERICA'S WOUNDED SERVICE PERSONNEL AND VETERANS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE WOUNDED SERVICE PERSONNEL AND VETERANS WITH CHALLENGES SUCH AS: HEAD AND SPINAL CORD INJURIES, AMPUTATION, AUDITORY AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. TO ACHIEVE SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL, REINTEGRATION, AND/OR THERAPY GOALS, PARTICIPANTS WORK WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE AND EMPATHETIC ENVIRONMENT. (SEE SCHEDULE O)OTHER PROGRAMMING (CONTINUED): TH FREEDOM REINS (CONTINUED): THIS ENVIRONMENT IS FACILITATED BY PATH CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS AND/OR LICENSED THERAPISTS, OFTEN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE FREQUENTLY VETERANS/SERVICE PERSONNEL THEMSELVES. SUMMER CAMPS: THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS THERAPEUTIC AND RECREATIONAL CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES ON A LIMITED BASIS. THESE SMALL GROUP, INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE HORSEMANSHIP AND RIDING SKILLS ALONG WITH NATURE-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES. LICENSED THERAPISTS AND/OR PATH CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS FACILITATE SESSIONS TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS ABLE TO ENJOY AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PERSONALIZED TO A CAMPER'S SKILL LEVEL AND INTEREST. THE SUMMER CAMPS SERVED 4 INDIVIDUALS.GAITWAY RIDING PROGRAM: THE GAITWAY RIDING PROGRAM STRENGTHENS THE OUTCOMES FOR THERAPEUTIC CLIENTS BY PROMOTING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND ENHANCING AWARENESS THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES AND CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY OFFERING LIMITED, AS-NEEDED HORSEMANSHIP AND RIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO TYPICALLY DEVELOPING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SIBLINGS, FAMILY MEMBERS, OR VOLUNTEERS. THE GAITWAY RIDING PROGRAM SERVED 1 INDIVIDUAL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.