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Healing Strides of Va

EIN 54-1594325 · Boones Mill, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE WELLNESS FOR PEOPLE WITH PERSONAL CHALLENGES WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPIES IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$980,669
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
45
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$71,800, ceo

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: 30 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THERAPEUTIC RIDING HORSEMANSHIP PROGRAM: 2024 HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR, WITH THE RATE OF CHILD AND ADULT SUICIDE INCREASING AND THE NEED FOR HELPING BOTH YOUNG AND OLD IS EVER INCREASING. THE NEED IS MUCH MORE THAN THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER. WE CONTINUE TO PLACE PRIORITY ON GROWTH AND SERVING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. WITH THE HORSE BEING NOT ONLY THE EQUALIZER BUT ALSO THE MOTIVATOR FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS WE HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN. BY GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE AND GROW IN CONFIDENCE, PHYSICAL CAPACITY AND STRENGTH ALONG WITH RESILENCY AND FOCUS. WE ARE SERVING 200 PEOPLE A WEEK AND FIND THAT BY SERVING THOSE THEY ARE ABLE TO AFFECT THEIR FAMILIES BY THEIR OWN HEALING AND THEREFORE THEIR COMMUNITY ALSO. WE ARE AWARE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE STATED OUR FACILITY "SAVED THEIR LIFE" ON A LITERAL BASIS BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT ARE MADE IN OUR PROGRAMMING NOT ONLY WITH OUR HORSES BUT ALSO WITH OUR STAFF. PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND SPEECH THERAPY ARE STILL FOUNDATIONS OF OUR CLINICAL PRACTICE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL SYSTEM. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GROWING THIS PROGRAM TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE. THERAPEUTIC RIDING HORSEMANSHIP PROGRAM: 2024 HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR, WITH THE RATE OF CHILD AND ADULT SUICIDE INCREASING AND THE NEED FOR HELPING BOTH YOUNG AND OLD IS EVER INCREASING. THE NEED IS MUCH MORE THAN THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER. WE CONTINUE TO PLACE PRIORITY ON GROWTH AND SERVING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. WITH THE HORSE BEING NOT ONLY THE EQUALIZER BUT ALSO THE MOTIVATOR FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS WE HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN. BY GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE AND GROW IN CONFIDENCE, PHYSICAL CAPACITY AND STRENGTH ALONG WITH RESILENCY AND FOCUS. WE ARE SERVING 200 PEOPLE A WEEK AND FIND THAT BY SERVING THOSE THEY ARE ABLE TO AFFECT THEIR FAMILIES BY THEIR OWN HEALING AND THEREFORE THEIR COMMUNITY ALSO. WE ARE AWARE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE STATED OUR FACILITY "SAVED THEIR LIFE" ON A LITERAL BASIS BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT ARE MADE IN OUR PROGRAMMING NOT ONLY WITH OUR HORSES BUT ALSO WITH OUR STAFF. PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND SPEECH THERAPY ARE STILL FOUNDATIONS OF OUR CLINICAL PRACTICE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL SYSTEM. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GROWING THIS PROGRAM TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE.
  2. MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COACHING: OUR MHEC PROGRAM GREW CONSIDERABLY WITH SERVING THE POPULATION OF ADULTS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE A NEW 60 PEOPLE A WEEK IN THIS PROGRAM JUST WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, FINDING THAT WE MADE A MAJOR CHANGE IN THEIR OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVE FOR THEIR LIFE. WE HAVE HAD GRADUATES OF THIS PROGRAM COME BACK AND SHARE THAT THEY ARE STILL SOBER AND THAT WE MADE THE DIFFERENCE. WE ALSO ADDED AN EVIDENCE BASED MODEL, CALLED BRIEF STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPY TO OUR SERVICES AND BEING THE SECOND LICENSED FACILITY IN THE STATE AND THE ONLY FACILITY TO ADD HORSES TO THE MODEL. A RARE ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE HAD THE FIRST THERAPIST/COACH BECOME FULLY PANELED IN OUR STATE. FOSTER CHILDREN AND CHILDREN OF TRAUMA ARE STILL OUR PRIMARY TARGET AND WORKING WITH THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND ALSO WITH THEIR FAMILIES HAS SHOWN TO MAKE CHANGES THAT HAVE BECOME SUSTAINABLE. WE HAVE GROWN OUR FIELD TRIPS AND ONE TIME VISITS SUBSTANTIALLY AND FIND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE CHILDREN SAY THEIR FIRST WORDS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO THE QUICK RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BUILT WITH THE HORSE. IN BOTH PROGRAMS WE HAVE SERVED OVER 12,000 HORSE/HUMAN INTERACTIONS, 18,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS GIVEN TO US BY OUR COMMUNITY HELPING US TO SERVE 65 DISTINCT DISABILITIES AND NUMEROUS COMPLEX DISABILITIES. ALONG WITH CONTINUING TO GROW THE EXISTING PROGRAMS WE ADDED THE SEVERAL MENTIONED ABOVE. HEALING STRIDES IS RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN OUR INDUSTRY. MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION AND COACHING: OUR MHEC PROGRAM GREW CONSIDERABLY WITH SERVING THE POPULATION OF ADULTS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE A NEW 60 PEOPLE A WEEK IN THIS PROGRAM JUST WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, FINDING THAT WE MADE A MAJOR CHANGE IN THEIR OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVE FOR THEIR LIFE. WE HAVE HAD GRADUATES OF THIS PROGRAM COME BACK AND SHARE THAT THEY ARE STILL SOBER AND THAT WE MADE THE DIFFERENCE. WE ALSO ADDED AN EVIDENCE BASED MODEL, CALLED BRIEF STRATEGIC FAMILY THERAPY TO OUR SERVICES AND BEING THE SECOND LICENSED FACILITY IN THE STATE AND THE ONLY FACILITY TO ADD HORSES TO THE MODEL. A RARE ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE HAD THE FIRST THERAPIST/COACH BECOME FULLY PANELED IN OUR STATE. FOSTER CHILDREN AND CHILDREN OF TRAUMA ARE STILL OUR PRIMARY TARGET AND WORKING WITH THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND ALSO WITH THEIR FAMILIES HAS SHOWN TO MAKE CHANGES THAT HAVE BECOME SUSTAINABLE. WE HAVE GROWN OUR FIELD TRIPS AND ONE TIME VISITS SUBSTANTIALLY AND FIND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE CHILDREN SAY THEIR FIRST WORDS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO THE QUICK RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BUILT WITH THE HORSE. IN BOTH PROGRAMS WE HAVE SERVED OVER 12,000 HORSE/HUMAN INTERACTIONS, 18,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS GIVEN TO US BY OUR COMMUNITY HELPING US TO SERVE 65 DISTINCT DISABILITIES AND NUMEROUS COMPLEX DISABILITIES. ALONG WITH CONTINUING TO GROW THE EXISTING PROGRAMS WE ADDED THE SEVERAL MENTIONED ABOVE. HEALING STRIDES IS RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN OUR INDUSTRY.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 October 1991.

    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.