Steady Strides Riding Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Fiscal Year 2025 marked SSRC's eighth year of service to riders and horses. During FY25, SSRC provided more than 2,375 riding lessons and served 300 riders and program participants. Through its sliding-scale financial assistance program, 17 individuals received free or reduced-cost riding and horsemanship lessons. Continued on Schedule O.
- Income
- $583,676
- Spending
- $563,216
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -13.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $27,860, program director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (2)
- $252,609 spent. COLLABORATIONS. In addition to its regularly offered programs, SSRC engages in collaborative initiatives with partner organizations. Since 2018, SSRC has partnered with Masterson Method to host annual equine bodywork certification workshops, providing program horses with complimentary bodywork services. Since 2019, SSRC has collaborated with Freedom Run Horse Shows to include adaptive classes for riders with disabilities in local Tucson hunter/jumper schooling shows. For the second consecutive year, SSRC partnered with Freedom Run Equine Veterinary Services and the Desert Equine Education Group to host 24 University of Arizona veterinary students for a day of education and hands-on technical training with SSRC's school horses. SSRC also partnered with Mica Mountain High School through the school's vocational training program. Students volunteered weekly to assist with barn maintenance, including mucking stalls, weeding, cleaning, and general upkeep. This experience fostered teamwork, problem-solving skills, and professionalism in an active barn setting. For the second year, SSRC co-produced the Tucson Fall Horse Shows in partnership with Freedom Run Horse Shows. The events, held at the Pima County Fairgrounds from October 20 to November 10, 2024, attracted 180 riders and horses from across the Southwest. This is a large community event with potential to grow significantly in the coming years.
- $12,755 spent. RESCUE
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.