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James River Horse Foundation

EIN 84-2321005 · Oilville, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

James River Horse Foundation ("JRHF") provides humane care, safe sanctuary, rehabilitation & when possible, a second career for Thoroughbred racehorses that can no longer complete & may be at risk for abuse, neglect or slaughter. At its location at the State Farm Work Center in Goochland County, VA, JRHF operates an equine care & management program for nonviolent inmates using the retired horses.

Income
$259,469
Spending
$202,510
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
13.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
3
Volunteers
25

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (2)
  1. $144,706 spent. Horse rehabilitation & retirement sanctuary program - Thoroughbred horses that cannot compete at the track due to injuries sustained in racing or training are at risk for neglect, abuse or slaughter. Whenever possible, these horses are rehabilitated & retained for second careers & are adopted out to loving homes after careful screening by the staff of JRHF. Those that are not adoptable are provided safe sanctuary for life,including veteninary care, regular hoof trimming & shoeing, and careful monitoring of nutritional needs. The program normally cares for between 25 & 30 horses at any one time. When an adoption provides a vacancy, new horses are admitted to the program. Adopted horses may never be bred or sold & are always returned to the program if the adoptor can no longer care for them. JRHF works in partnership with AfterCare Charles Town ("ACT") in West VA to accept horses requiring 4-6 months of rehabilitative care which the inmate participants provide through their educational program, after which they are returned to ACT for placement or adopted out locally in the JRHF surrounding area. This partnership provides valuable, diverse training opportunities for the inmates in our equine care & management program. JRHF is currently working to establish a similar partnership with "Beyond the Wire" which is a Thoroughbred rescue group located in Laurel, MD near the race track there.
  2. $40,985 spent. Inmate training program - this educational outreach program selects 8 to 10 candidates from the prision population at the State Farm Work Center every 12 weeks to participate in the vocational training program on a rotating basis. Each candidate is carefully screened by the Barn Manager in cooperation with the Assistant Warden & other correctional officers at the facility. This program has established a valuable public-governmental relationship with the VA Dept of Corrections ("VADOC") & is widely recognized for its contributions to the welfare & education of participating offenders & for marked reduction in reeidivism rates for these taking part in the outreach training program. Graduates of the program who have completed their sentence have gone on to successful employment as grooms, blacksmiths & workers at local area horse farms and race tracks such as Colonial Downs in New Kent, VA. The training program is supervised by the Barn Manager & follows an established & well-supervised curriculum having 3 levels of intensity & depth in horse care management & farm maintenance. Participants are transported by officers daily to Barn 4 to study equine nutrition & behaviors, basic veterinary care, & horse handling techniques & are tested on the materials & "graduate" through the levels. Guest speakers such as local veterinarians, trainers & farriers visit Barn 4 often to teach by example, enhancing the written materials & the hands on experience with the horses. Participants learn to work as a cooperative team, take on responsibilities & complete goals toward a certification that can aid them in obtaining employment after their release. JRHF, in cooperation with VADOC hosts "Open Barn" days when the public can visit Barn 4 & see the progress made by the inmates & the horses.

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 September 2021.

    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.