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Virginia Horse Center Foundation

EIN 52-1388640 · Lexington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WORLD CLASS FACILITY HOSTING REGIONAL, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN EVENTS THAT ENVISIONS A UNIQUE, BUCOLIC LANDMARK TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE TIMELESS, SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN MANKIND AND THE HORSE THROUGH SAFE, FAIR, AND SPIRITED EQUESTRIAN COMPETITION.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-14 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
53
Volunteers
260
Highest pay
$141,819, employee

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $5.3 million spent. HORSE SHOWS, CLINICS AND OTHER EVENTS FOR HUNTER/JUMPERS, ARABIANS, THOROUGHBREDS AND OTHER BREEDS AND DISCIPLINES. THE SHOWS ARE RECOGNIZED BY MANY NATIONAL EQUINE GROUPS, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION, AND SERVE COMPETITORS FROM A LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. FACILITY AND SHOW OPERATIONS--THE VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER IS A 573 ACRE STATE OF THE ART ENVIRONMENT FOR HORSE SHOWS AND OTHER EVENTS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY EIGHT BARNS TO ACCOMODATE 750 HORSES IN PERMANENT STABLING. APPROXIMATELY 1200 HORSES CAN BE ACCOMODATED IN PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY STABLING. THEIR PROXIMITY TO A 4,000 SEAT INDOOR COLISEUM ALLOWS THE EVENT CALENDAR TO EXTEND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE CENTER HAS TWO LARGE ARENAS, ONE OF WHICH IS OLYMPIC LEVEL AND TWO CROSS-COUNTRY COURSES, INCLUDING FEI (INTERNATIONAL) LEVEL COURSES.

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 October 13, 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 June 1985.

    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 October 21, 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.