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War Horse News

EIN 82-1669255 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WAR HORSE IS AN AWARD-WINNING NONPROFIT NEWSROOM EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON MILITARY SERVICE, WAR, AND ITS IMPACT. OUR TEAM ACHIEVES THIS THROUGH JOURNALISM, PUBLIC FORUMS, AND WRITING SEMINARS THAT ENSURE THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY WAR HAVE A PROMINENT VOICE IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
9
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$130,926, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 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 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • 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, 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. $635,574 spent. THE WAR HORSE NEWS INC. SERVES AS A NON-PARTISAN NEWSROOM WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE INSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC ON THE SUBJECT OF MILITARY SERVICE, WAR, AND ITS IMPACTS ON VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS A SUBJECT USEFUL TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $248,227 spent. HOSTING OF WRITING SEMINARS FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, ANDTHEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR NEWSROOM, WHOM WEREFER TO AS "FELLOWS." THIS INITIATIVE FURTHERS OUR PURPOSE TO PROMOTETHE ARTS AND CULTURE BY PROVIDING INSTRUCTION IN JOURNALISM, WRITINGSKILLS, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS TO OUR FELLOWS.
  3. $73,664 spent. HOSTING OF PUBLIC FORUMS FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS, JOURNALISTS, AND MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO CONVENE AND DISCUSS THE TOPICS OF MILITARY SERVICE, WAR AND ITS IMPACT AND JOURNALISM REGARDING THOSE TOPICS.

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 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 July 2020.

    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.