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Days End Farm Horse Rescue Inc

EIN 52-1759077 · Woodbine, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE QUALITY CARE AND TREATMENT OF HORSES THROUGH INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
26
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$152,198, ceo

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 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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

    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. $1.4 million spent. RESCUE AND REHABILITATION - IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL AND HUMANE AGENCIES, DAYS END FARM HORSE RESCUE (DEFHR) PROVIDES CRITICAL RESCUE, REHABILITATION AND HUSBANDRY SERVICES FOR HORSES SUFFERING FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT. OUR COMPREHENSIVE CARE PROGRAMS INCLUDE REHABILITATION, TRAINING, ADOPTION SERVICES, HE DEFHR GUARDIAN/ OFF-SITE SANCTUARY PROGRAM, AND THE EQUIDOPT/ ON-SITE FOSTER PROGRAM ALL DESIGNED TO PREPARE FOR AND SECURE SAFE, LOVING, AND LONG-TERM HOMES FOR REHABILITATED HORSES POST LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. EACH YEAR, WE SHELTER AN AVERAGE OF 125-150 HORSES AND SERVE AS THE PRIMARY IMPOUNDING FACILITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT'S LIVING EVIDENCE IN CRUELTY CASES, OFFERING CRUCIAL FORENSIC DOCUMENTATION, EXPERT TESTIMONY, AND HANDS-ON CRUELTY INVESTIGATION TRAINING FOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS AND HUMANE SOCIETIES. AS THE ONLY FACILITY IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION PROVIDING THIS LEVEL OF EQUINE CARE AND EXPERTISE, WE OFFER OUR SERVICES AT NO COST TO THE AGENCIES THAT DEPEND ON US. THIS NOT ONLY ENSURES THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE BUT ALSO HELPS SAFEGUARD THE LIMITED BUDGETS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, ALLOWING THEM TO FOCUS THEIR RESOURCES ON INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS. OUR WORK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF FOUNDATIONS AND DONORS, AS WELL AS THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. ADDITIONALLY, DEFHR OFFERS DISASTER RESPONSE AND LARGE ANIMAL EMERGENCY RESCUE SERVICES, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING EQUINES DURING NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
  2. $335,304 spent. HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAMS - DEFHR'S NATIONAL EQUINE WELFARE CENTER PROVIDES HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTING THE PROPER CARE, TREATMENT, AND TRAINING OF HORSES, FOSTERING A CULTURE OF COMPASSION AND RESPONSIBLE EQUINE OWNERSHIP. OUR DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS INCLUDE THE HIGHLY-REGARDED AND COMPETITIVE INTERNSHIP AND YOUTH PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDE HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN EQUINE CARE AND REHABILITATION. IN ADDITION TO THESE FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS, DEFHR CONDUCTS ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE SEMINARS FOR LAW ENFORCERS, ANIMAL WELFARE PROFESSIONALS AND ENTHUSIASTS, ENGAGING YOUTH GROUPS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. EDUCATIONAL TOURS AND INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES, ENCOURAGING A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO ANIMAL WELFARE. DEFHR IS UNIQUE IN THAT OUR NATIONAL EQUINE WELFARE CENTER IS OPEN DAILY TO RECEIVE VISITORS FOR TOURS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $139,182 spent. OUTREACH PROGRAMS - DEFHR'S OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF HORSES WHILE PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE EQUINE CARE. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SETTING UP INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS AT FAIRS AND EXPOS, PUBLISHING A MONTHLY VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER, POSTING ACROSS OUR VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND OFFERING CONSULTATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS LOOKING TO START HORSE RESCUES OR SEEKING GUIDANCE TO IMPROVE EXISTING RESCUE OPERATIONS. DEFHR ALSO PARTICIPATES ACTIVELY IN THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL, HOLDS A BOARD POSITION ON THE MARYLAND HORSE INDUSTRY BOARD REPRESENTING HUMANE SOCIETIES, AND IS A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE HOMES FOR HORSES COALITION. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ACCREDITED BY THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES, THE THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE, AND THE EQUUS FOUNDATION. OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY HAS EARNED US THE HIGHEST SEALS OF EXCELLENCE FROM GUIDESTAR, CHARITY NAVIGATOR, AND THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THROUGH OUR OWNER2OWNER (O2O) PROGRAM, A PUBLIC SAFETY NET, WE ASSIST PRIVATE HORSE OWNERS WHO CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE FOR THEIR HORSES. THIS PROGRAM FACILITATES THE TRANSITION OF HORSES TO NEW OWNERS OR OFFERS HUMANE EUTHANASIA SUPPORT, PREVENTING THESE ANIMALS FROM BURDENING RESCUE FACILITIES OR SUFFERING FURTHER NEGLECT.OUR ROBUST VOLUNTEER PROGRAM INVITES INDIVIDUALS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE REHABILITATION JOURNEY, OFFERING TRAINING IN HORSE CARE, STABLE MANAGEMENT, AND THE REHABILITATION OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED EQUINES. WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS AS YOUNG AS FIVE, FOSTERING COMPASSION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN BOTH ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE.

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 July 1992.

    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.