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Horses Help Foundation

EIN 74-2477097 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HORSES HELP SERVES THE SPECIAL NEEDS AND AT RISK COMMUNITIES BY USING HORSES AND PEOPLE TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$531,988
Spending
$761,056
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
22
Volunteers
97
Highest pay
$60,000, exec director until 02/01/25

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

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 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 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 89% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 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. $277,146 spent. IN THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR, HORSES HELP SERVED 117 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS, TOTALING 1,736 SERVICES. SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ONLY ONE PROGRAM, WHILE OTHERS ATTEND WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR BUSIEST PROGRAM IS STILL THE ONE ON WHICH HORSES HELP WAS FOUNDED ADAPTIVE RIDING AND HORSEMANSHIP FOR RECREATIONAL EQUINE SERVICES, DESIGNED TO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
  2. $184,764 spent. THE EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING PROGRAMS SERVED A TOTAL OF 23 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS 390 SESSIONS, USING A FORM OF HUMAN-EQUINE INTERACTION THAT PROVIDES A PERSONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-ESTEEM, AND CONFIDENCE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND SELF-CONTROL.
  3. COMMUNITY TRAINING INCLUDED TWO MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND SKILLS TESTING FOR MORE THAN 24 PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN BECOMING PATH INTERNATIONAL EQUINE SPECIALISTS IN MENTAL HEALTH LEARNING OR WERE REVISITING THE WORKSHOP CONTENT FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 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 July 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 October 1988.

    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.