Mustang Champions
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Working in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro Program, Mustang Champions will create and manage programs and events that will positively and efficiently aid in decreasing the total number of excess wild horses in holding, while building awareness, providing education, and creating a sense of community among mustang enthusiasts. Our hope is that with our combined efforts and talents we can reduce the American taxpayer burden that funds the gathering and holding of mustangs and the successful placement of mustangs into caring homes.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 85%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $155,411, executive 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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $1.6 million spent. Mustang Champions (MC), in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse & Burro Program, advanced its mission to increase wild horse adoptions, educate the public, and promote responsible stewardship of rangelands through competitive events and national outreach initiatives. MC successfully produced three national eventsMustang Magic, Mustang Challenge, and Mustang Classicengaging the English and Western riding communities; promoting humane training practices; and facilitating over 150 mustangs participation in competitive environments while reaching broad audiences through media coverage, livestreams, and marketing campaigns that generated millions of impressions and grew social media engagement to over 10,500 followers. Concurrently, MC implemented the Interactive Wild Horse Experience, delivering educational programming through virtual reality, live events, and updated outreach materials to increase public understanding of wild horse management and rangeland health.
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 November 6, 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 March 2023.
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 November 4, 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.