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Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center

EIN 91-1012131 · Redmond, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LITTLE BIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER IS A COMMUNITY WHERE HORSES TRANSFORM THE BODIES, MINDS AND SPIRITS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
88
Volunteers
1,364
Highest pay
$147,440, executive director

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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, 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. ADAPTIVE RIDING SERVICES: ADAPTIVE RIDING FOCUSES ON INCREASING INDIVIDUAL RIDING SKILLS WHILE GAINING THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS. LESSONS ARE TAUGHT BY ONE OF OUR INSTRUCTORS CERTIFIED BY THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP INTERNATIONAL (PATH). PARTICIPANTS SHOW IMPROVED INDEPENDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, CONCENTRATION, VERBAL FLUENCY AND REDUCED ANXIETY. IN 2024, DURING OUR 42 WEEKS OF REGULAR ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING, 5,123 ADAPTIVE RIDING LESSONS WERE PROVIDED FOR 174 PARTICIPANTS. EQUINE-FACILITATED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EFP) AND EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL) INVOLVE LITTLE BIT PARTNERING WITH LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS (EFP) AND EDUCATORS (EAL) TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT OUR FACILITY. THERAPISTS AND EDUCATORS WORK HAND IN HAND WITH LITTLE BIT STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY PATH AS EQUINE SPECIALISTS. HORSES ARE UNIQUELY SUITED TO THIS KIND OF THERAPY BECAUSE THEY ARE INTUITIVE AND WILL REACT TO BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND CUES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT MISS, ALLOWING THE THERAPIST OR EDUCATOR TO INTERACT ON A DEEPER LEVEL WITH THEIR PATIENT OR STUDENT AND ADDRESS ISSUES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GO UNNOTICED. IN 2024, EFP SERVICES WERE PROVIDED FOR 13 PARTICIPANTS IN 276 SESSIONS, AND 125 PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN 98 EAL SESSIONS. IN 2024, ADAPTIVE SUMMER CAMP SERVED 64 PARTICIPANTS WITH DISABILITIES AND 12 NEUROTYPICAL PARTICIPANTS IN 8 WEEK-LONG CAMPS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. THERAPY SERVICES: THERAPY AT LITTLE BIT IS AN INTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT DURING WHICH A LICENSED PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, OR SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPIST WORKS WITH A PATIENT, INCORPORATING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE, OR THE HORSE ITSELF, AS PART OF THE TREATMENT. THE THERAPIST USES THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE TO ADDRESS THE PATIENT'S CHALLENGES, SUCH AS DEFICITS IN BALANCE, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, AND ATTENTION. THIS THERAPY DOES NOT TEACH RIDING SKILLS, RATHER THE GOALS ARE GEARED TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE FOR DAILY ACTIVITIES AND INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY LIFE. IN 2024, LITTLE BIT PROVIDED 3,811 TREATMENT SESSIONS AND 82 EVALUATIONS TO 160 PATIENTS.
  3. $4,357 spent. SEMINARS & CLINICS: LITTLE BIT HOSTS WORKSHOPS/CERTIFICATIONS FOR PATH AND AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION (AHA). THESE WORKSHOPS PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO POTENTIAL PATH INSTRUCTORS FOR THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP AND EQUINE SPECIALISTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARNING, AS WELL AS THERAPISTS FOR HIPPOTHERAPY. IN 2024, LITTLE BIT HOSTED AN AHA HIPPOTHERAPY TREATMENT PRINCIPLES - PART II WORKSHOP FOR 12 PARTICIPANTS. A HIPPOTHERAPY HANDLER SKILLS COURSE WAS HOSTED FOR 23 PARTICIPANTS.
  4. $3,604 spent. HORSE SHOWS: LITTLE BIT HOSTS MEMORIAL HORSE SHOWS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR RIDING SKILLS. THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS TO EARN MERIT-BASED AWARDS AND COMPETE AGAINST THEIR PEERS IN A SPORT THAT THEY TRAIN AND PRACTICE FOR YEAR AROUND. IN 2024, WE HAD 5 VIRTUAL AND 74 IN-PERSON HORSE SHOW PARTICIPANTS OF ALL ABILITIES JUDGED ON A VARIETY OF SKILL LEVELS ON HORSEBACK.

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 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 February 1978.

    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.