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Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue Society Ltd

EIN 59-3822764 · Mount Airy, MD

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 SAVE DRAFT HORSES FROM SLAUGHTER, ABUSE, AND NEGLECT, AND FINDING THEM ADOPTIVE HOMES AS TRAIL AND SCHOOLING HORSES.

Income
$11.7 million
Spending
$8.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
66
Highest pay
$269,615, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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 December 31, 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. .
  2. $7.1 million spent. GENTLE GIANTS DRAFT HORSE RESCUE FURTHERS ITS MISSION BY ALSO ASSISTING HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES BY OFFERING CONTROL AND CUSTODY DURING LITIGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WE ARE OFTEN ABLE TO OFFER THIS RESOURCE AT NO COST TO THE HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION, FURTHER EMPOWERING THEM TO ENFORCE ANIMAL WELFARE LAW AND PROTECT MORE HORSES. WE ALSO OFFER OUR RESCUE SERVICES TO PRIVATE OWNERS OF HORSES WHO FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE NUTRITION AND/OR MEDICAL CARE TO THE ANIMALS THEY POSSESS, PREVENTING THOSE ANIMALS FROM FURTHER NEGLECT OR SUFFERING AND KEEPING MORE HORSES OUT OF THE HORSE SLAUGHTER AUCTION PIPELINE. GENTLE GIANTS OPERATES SEVERAL PUBLIC SAFETY NET PROGRAMS TO ASSIST ANIMALS IN NEED, SUCH AS OPERATION GELD - A CERTIFICATE BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EQUINE CASTRATIONS WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND; MARYLAND HAY BANK - WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT OF HAY TO PRIVATE OWNERS FACING A TEMPORARY FINANCIAL CRISIS TO ASSIST THE HORSE OWNER DURING A BRIEF PERIOD OF NEED, AND TO KEEP HORSES IN HOMES; EUTHANASIA ASSISTANCE - TO FINANCIALLY PROVIDE FOR VETERINARY ADMINISTERED HUMANE EUTHANASIA OF HORSES IN EXTREME STATES OF ILLNESS AND INJURY IN WHICH REHABILITATION WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE OR EVEN CRUEL, PREVENTING HORSES WITH GRAVE INJURIES LIKE BROKEN LEGS, THOSE WHO ARE OF ADVANCED AGE, OR THOSE IN LATE-STAGE ILLNESS FROM SUFFERING THE ADDITIONAL HORROR OF LANGUISHING IN THEIR CURRENT STATE OR BEING SHIPPED TO SLAUGHTER IN THEIR FRAGILE CONDITION. GENTLE GIANTS ALSO EXTENDS DONATION-BASED TECHNICAL LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE SERVICES WITHIN A TWO-HOUR RADIUS OF OUR FACILITY. GENTLE GIANTS REACHES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE HORROR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER THROUGH PUBLIC EXPOSITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS, CLINICS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, TOURS, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WEB-BASED INFORMATION, EMAIL, DIRECT MAIL, AND TELEPHONE. IN 2019, GENTLE GIANTS REACHED 1,953,905 INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE FATE OF UNWANTED HORSES IN THE UNITED STATES. 59,381 PEOPLE JOINED MEMBERSHIP IN GENTLE GIANTS, RETURNING 118,762 SIGNED PETITIONS TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO STOP THE EXPORT OF HORSES FOR SLAUGHTER. GENTLE GIANTS IS ALSO ACTIVE IN THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL, THE MARYLAND HORSE INDUSTRY BOARD, AND MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF RESCUES AND EQUINE SANCTUARIES.
  3. GENTLE GIANTS DRAFT HORSE RESCUE FURTHERS ITS MISSION BY ALSO ASSISTING HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES BY OFFERING CONTROL AND CUSTODY DURING LITIGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WE ARE OFTEN ABLE TO OFFER THIS RESOURCE AT NO COST TO THE HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION, FURTHER EMPOWERING THEM TO ENFORCE ANIMAL WELFARE LAW AND PROTECT MORE HORSES. WE ALSO OFFER OUR RESCUE SERVICES TO PRIVATE OWNERS OF HORSES WHO FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE NUTRITION AND/OR MEDICAL CARE TO THE ANIMALS THEY POSSESS, PREVENTING THOSE ANIMALS FROM FURTHER NEGLECT OR SUFFERING AND KEEPING MORE HORSES OUT OF THE HORSE SLAUGHTER AUCTION PIPELINE. GENTLE GIANTS OPERATES SEVERAL PUBLIC SAFETY NET PROGRAMS TO ASSIST ANIMALS IN NEED, SUCH AS OPERATION GELD - A CERTIFICATE BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EQUINE CASTRATIONS WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND; MARYLAND HAY BANK - WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT OF HAY TO PRIVATE OWNERS FACING A TEMPORARY FINANCIAL CRISIS TO ASSIST THE HORSE OWNER DURING A BRIEF PERIOD OF NEED, AND TO KEEP HORSES IN HOMES; EUTHANASIA ASSISTANCE - TO FINANCIALLY PROVIDE FOR VETERINARY ADMINISTERED HUMANE EUTHANASIA OF HORSES IN EXTREME STATES OF ILLNESS AND INJURY IN WHICH REHABILITATION WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE OR EVEN CRUEL, PREVENTING HORSES WITH GRAVE INJURIES LIKE BROKEN LEGS, THOSE WHO ARE OF ADVANCED AGE, OR THOSE IN LATE-STAGE ILLNESS FROM SUFFERING THE ADDITIONAL HORROR OF LANGUISHING IN THEIR CURRENT STATE OR BEING SHIPPED TO SLAUGHTER IN THEIR FRAGILE CONDITION. GENTLE GIANTS ALSO EXTENDS DONATION-BASED TECHNICAL LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE SERVICES WITHIN A TWO-HOUR RADIUS OF OUR FACILITY. GENTLE GIANTS REACHES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE HORROR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER THROUGH PUBLIC EXPOSITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS, CLINICS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, TOURS, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WEB-BASED INFORMATION, EMAIL, DIRECT MAIL, AND TELEPHONE. IN 2019, GENTLE GIANTS REACHED 1,953,905 INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE FATE OF UNWANTED HORSES IN THE UNITED STATES. 59,381 PEOPLE JOINED MEMBERSHIP IN GENTLE GIANTS, RETURNING 118,762 SIGNED PETITIONS TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO STOP THE EXPORT OF HORSES FOR SLAUGHTER. GENTLE GIANTS IS ALSO ACTIVE IN THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL, THE MARYLAND HORSE INDUSTRY BOARD, AND MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF RESCUES AND EQUINE SANCTUARIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2007.

    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.