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Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center Inc

EIN 56-1941069 · Tobaccoville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RIVERWOOD THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER PROVIDES CERTIFIED EQUINE-ASSISTED SERVICES AND FARM-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIVERSE CAPABILITIES. CLIENTS SERVED INCLUDED THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, DISABILITIES RESULTING FROM TRAUMA, ACQUIRED CHRONIC CONDITIONS, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES AND DIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

Income
$516,913
Spending
$629,835
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
21
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$63,978, executive di

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (1)
  1. $462,159 spent. RIVERWOOD THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER PROVIDES CERTIFIED EQUINE-ASSISTED SERVICES AND FARM-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIVERSE CAPABILITIES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: THERAPEUTIC RIDING, EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY AND EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING. RIVERWOOD IS A PREMIER ACCREDITED CENTER UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP,INTERNATIONAL. CLIENTS SERVED INCLUDED THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, DISABILITIES RESULTING FROM TRAUMA, ACQUIRED CHRONIC CONDITIONS, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES AND DIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. ALL SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED INCLUDE A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR NEEDS, A PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT AND APPROPRIATE RELEASES AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL DOCUMENTS. A TREATMENT PLAN AND INDIVIDUAL SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS ARE SET FOR EACH CLIENT ALONG WITH ONGOING PROGRESS NOTES. RIVERWOOD OPERATES ON A YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE SERVING MORE THAN 200 CLIENTS EACH YEAR INCLUDING THOSE THAT COME THROUGH OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. CLIENTS ARE EITHER REFERRED BY PHYSICIANS, THERAPISTS, EDUCATORS OR BY WORD OF MOUTH. RIVERWOOD USES NEWSLETTERS, WEB SITE, E- MAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES, NEWS AND EVENTS. RIVERWOOD THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER PROVIDES CERTIFIED EQUINE-ASSISTED SERVICES AND FARM-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIVERSE CAPABILITIES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: THERAPEUTIC RIDING, EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY AND EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING. RIVERWOOD IS A PREMIER ACCREDITED CENTER UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP,INTERNATIONAL. CLIENTS SERVED INCLUDED THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, DISABILITIES RESULTING FROM TRAUMA, ACQUIRED CHRONIC CONDITIONS, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES AND DIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. ALL SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED INCLUDE A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR NEEDS, A PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT AND APPROPRIATE RELEASES AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL DOCUMENTS. A TREATMENT PLAN AND INDIVIDUAL SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS ARE SET FOR EACH CLIENT ALONG WITH ONGOING PROGRESS NOTES. RIVERWOOD OPERATES ON A YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE SERVING MORE THAN 200 CLIENTS EACH YEAR INCLUDING THOSE THAT COME THROUGH OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. CLIENTS ARE EITHER REFERRED BY PHYSICIANS, THERAPISTS, EDUCATORS OR BY WORD OF MOUTH. RIVERWOOD USES NEWSLETTERS, WEB SITE, E- MAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES, NEWS AND EVENTS.

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 2025.

    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 September 1997.

    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.