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Montana Equestrian Events Inc

EIN 81-0530627 · Whitefish, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceWeak32 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTE AMATEUR EQUESTRIAN COMPETITION IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
55
Volunteers
400

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 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. $1.2 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION GIVES EQUESTRIANS OF ALL AGES THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES IN COMPETITIONS THAT ARE SANCTIONED BY A NATIONAL PARENT ORGANIZATION, THE UNITED STATES EVENTING ASSOCIATION (USEA), HEADQUARTERED IN LEESBURG, VIRGINIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONING ORGANIZATION, FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE, SWITZERLAND.THE PRIMARY SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS STAGING THE MAIN COMPETITION CALLED THE EVENT AT REBECCA FARM IN JULY OF EACH YEAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 580 ENTRANTS. THE RIDER AND HORSE PERFORM A COMBINATION OF THE EQUESTRIAN DISCIPLINE OF DRESSAGE, CROSS COUNTRY AND STADIUM JUMPING OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIVISIONS FROM NOVICE TO ADVANCED INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS. IT IS PART OF A CIRCUIT OF SIMILAR EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE U.S. AND THE WORLD AS IT SERVES AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE HORSE AND RIDER TO ADVANCE TO MAJOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN COMPETITIONS, INCLUDING THE OLYMPICS.OVER SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT, THE COURSE IS PREPARED TO APPROPRIATE STANDARDS, TEMPORARY STABLES ARE INSTALLED AND QUALIFIED OFFICIALS ARE HIRED. SEVERAL HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS ALSO HELP IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE EVENT. PLANNED FUNDRAISING TAKES PLACE TO SOLICIT SPONSORS TO OFFSET THE COST NOT COVERED BY ENTRY FEES SUCH AS PROGRAM PRODUCTION, PRIZES, ORGANIZATION FEES, SECURITY, TOILET RENTAL AND GARBAGE REMOVAL, ETC. OVER 20,000 SPECTATORS ATTEND AND ADMISSION IS FREE; HANDICAP ACCESS IS PROVIDED. A TRADE FAIR TAKES PLACE OVER THE 3 DAYS ATTRACTING VENDORS AND FOOD CONCESSIONAIRES. AN EVENING BARBECUE IS ALSO A TRADITIONAL PART OF THE FESTIVITIES. THE COMMUNITY NOT ONLY BENEFITS IN THE RECREATION PROVIDED, BUT ALSO FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT. THE AVERAGE COMPETITOR FROM OUT OF THE AREA (APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE ENTRANTS) BRING 4-5 HELPERS WITH THEM AND STAY AN AVERAGE OF 5 DAYS. EQUESTRIAN ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. AND CANADA FLOCK TO THE EVENT EACH JULY TO TAKE IT ALL IN AND THUS SUPPORTING LOCAL TOURISM.ALONG WITH THE MAIN EVENT, SEVERAL CLINICS, SHOW JUMPING COMPETITIONS AND A DRESSAGE SHOW TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. THEY TOO ARE SANCTIONED BY PARENT ORGANIZATIONS RESPECTIVELY AS PER THE EQUESTRIAN DISCIPLINE. EXPERT CLINICIANS TEACH 20-30 STUDENTS OVER WEEKENDS AND JUDGES OFFICIATE AT THE JUMPING AND DRESSAGE SHOWS WHICH AVERAGE 80 COMPETITORS. AGAIN, THESE EVENTS ATTRACT EQUESTRIANS FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. AND CANADA.IN 2012, IN MEMORY OF THE EVENT'S FOUNDER, REBECCA BROUSSARD, HER DAUGHTER, SARAH G. BROUSSARD, LAUNCHED "HALT CANCER AT X" - AN INITIATIVE TO RAISE MONEY FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH. THE NAME COMES FROM THE DRESSAGE TEST - WHERE THE FIRST MOVEMENT IS FOR THE RIDER TO HALT THE HORSE AT X, A STATION MARKED IN THE ARENA. A PARKING DONATION WAS COLLECTED EACH DAY AT THE EVENT TO HELP SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN AND PARTICIPATING COMPETITORS ALSO RAISED MONEY THROUGH SOLICITING PLEDGES. A TOTAL OF $69,000 WAS AWARDED TO NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER.

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 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 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 July 2000.

    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.