Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch Co
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch Company's primary exempt purpose is to provide a positive, safe, and structured equestrian environment for all children, including at-risk, disabled, and disadvantaged children.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 10.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 342
- Highest pay
- $97,078, secretary
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 6 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 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)
- $477,126 spent. Mentor the Child Session program accomplishments during 2024Session Programming:The Crystal Peaks staff & Volunteer interns completed 1,054 sessions over the season, which includes the following:-Crystal Peaks served 138 families with children ages 6-18 in its core session program.-495 one-on-one sessions were completed with the use of an equine partner.-Additionally, 254 children rode in a group-style setting last year.-The Crystal Peaks staff completed 56 one-on-one sessions from our referral programs. These mentor sessions are for children in significant at risk situations. Our Referral Program encompassed 5% of all sessions in 2024, and we are purposefully re-establishing connections to grow this percentage in future years.-CPYR hosted 15 session groups over the 2024 season. Our goal was to grow this outreach from our previous capacity of 1 group per month, which we accomplished several times throughout the summer. These groups were life skills classrooms from within the Central Oregon school districts and social service referral partners who also seek to comprehensively serve kids & families.Volunteer Intern Program:In addition to our staff leading sessions, tours, and groups, we trained & equipped 5 full-time volunteer "interns" from all across the United States. The goal of our Internship Program is to teach these individuals to listen to the dreams that God has put on their hearts in starting or working at a non-profit ministry similar to CPYR. During their time here, these individuals learn stewardship, programming, global communications, the nuts and bolts of ministry, ans so much about animal care and land stewardship. By the end of their time here, the goal is to not only have fully equipped session leaders who can work with kids and horses, but adults who can impact the world by sharing the hope of Jesus Christ through a myriad of different skills. Over the course of the entire season, the interns volunteered approximately 5,320 hours and led 542 sessions. Family Support Resources:In 2024, Crystal Peaks continued to focus on growing its family support programs. As a result, food, financial assistance, clothing, books, toys, fuel, and transportation needs were given to dozens of local families in need of support. In addition to the donation room and in-kind donations, Crystal Peaks received $2,000 in gift card donations to be given to families in need throughout the year. Outreach to Visitors:-Crystal peaks hosted 57 tours in 2024, which total almost 343 people.-Crystal Peaks hosted approximately 5,048 visitors in 2024, including children who came to CPYR to participate in the session program.
- $443,993 spent. Rescue the Equine accomplishments during 2024Herd Management:-Crystal Peaks adopted 3 session-ready horses in 2024. One was adopted after our session season ended and will join our 2025 session herd.-Crystal Peaks rescued 2 horses to assist an elderly woman. -Two horses in training were fully released into our session program.-Through all these transitions, the Ranch maintained a consistent number of 29-34 total horses on the Crystal Peaks campus.-Crystal Peaks kept stocked vet bags with emergency medical equipment stationed at specified areas of the Ranch and in each of the Ranch's horse trailers.-Crystal Peaks performed routine safety checks and cleaning on all saddles and bridles used in our riding program with the utmost detail.Herd Health:-All horses were kept up-to-date on routine dental care, farrier work, and deworming medication. -All equine living spaces were maintained to above standard levels, resulting naturally in a minimal fly population. -Manure was regularly composted and recycled for use on our pastures and gardens.-The Ranch utilized our additional 44 acres of pasture to practice rotational grazing with our herd. This resulted in vibrant gastro-intestinal tracts and strong hoof health for the entire herd.-Crystal Peaks equine team developed consistent use of slow feeders. Since this adjustment, the herd health and weight management has shown dramatic results. Our veterinary team has commented on how healthy our herd is. We had no significant health issues in 2024.- Horses with individual dietary needs were fed separately, yet continued to be turned out with the herd in consideration of their natural desire for herd companionship.Trainings:-The Ranch provided routine and weekly horse safety classes for staff and interns.-Crystal Peaks offered horse training classes at two clinics with approximately 150 participants from around the world.Kid and Group Sessions:-495 children received horse sessions in 2024.-Crystal Peaks partnered with Camp Eagle Cap, an organization that takes at-risk youth on a pack trip into the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Crystal Peaks hosted two training days for 20 youth to learn the basics of horse safety and riding to prepare them for their wilderness adventure.-The Ranch updated and replaced expired riding helmets to meet current ASTM/SEI-certificationsHorse Sponsor Program-In 2024, 63 people/families sponsored different Ranch horses, raising $57,310.00. Community Outreach-Crystal Peaks provided several hay donations to local elderly people in need.-Crystal Peaks supported several other similar organizations by opening the tack shop during our events and giving away assorted equine equipment to Similar Ministries from all across the United States.-The Ranch participated in the Redmond 4th of July Parade. The entry included a large float with Ranch kids, seven horses with children riders and adult side-walkers.
- $318,028 spent. Hope for the Family Accomplishments in 2024Refuge Fellowship:The Ranch continued to host monthly Refuge Fellowship gatherings throughout 2024. We hosted Refuge on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, and the attendance to each one of these events fluctuated between 150-350 people. We estimate that approximately 2,450 people came to Refuge in 2024.Family Events:-Harvest DaysFamilies were invited to come harvest our root vegetable patch, potatoes, and take part in breakout classes led by our staff to create fun, positive learning opportunities for kids & parents to experience together. Sewing, woodworking, making applesauce, leatherworking, and a kids sensory hay maze were offered. In addition to making positive memories as a family unit, the participants learned life skills that they can now use to be able to cut costs and repurpose items in their own homes. As we are able to continue to grow fruits & vegetables on the property, we are hopeful for our Harvest Day to become a literal harvest of our own orchard that teaches kids & families how to correctly can and store their own food. In 2024, we had 91 people attend our Harvest Day, and over a dozen volunteers join to support teaching classes and harvesting.-Camp Eagle CapOne of our new referral organizations is a local non-profit that takes children ages 10-12 on a wilderness retreat out in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The campers and leaders ride in 8 miles to the lodge on horseback, so they come to Crystal Peaks to learn the foundations of horsemanship. We continued our partnership in 2024 of teaching these campers and saw 75 adults & children from Camp Eagle Cap. Food Production:-We harvested approximately 4,000 onions and 4,000 pounds of potatoes from the CPYR root vegetable garden last fall during our annual Harvest Day. With those potatoes & onions, we were able to bless 50+ families (and counting) and donate hundreds of pounds of food to local food shelters. -In addition, the greenhouse on the main ranch continued to bless families with ripe heirloom produce all season, including tomatoes, cucumbers, Swiss chard, rhubarb, peppers, figs, pumpkins, carrots, peas, green beans, and a variety of herbs. Anyone visiting the Ranch is offered fresh fruits & vegetables to take as much as they can use. Because of this, we saw kids truly turning the corner to enjoy the process of gardening and being willing to try a larger variety of foods that they otherwise may not have. What a joy to see kids try these rich, delicious foods for the first time and love them because they grew them! Referral Organization Partnerships:-CPYR continued to invest in making connections with local organizations, creating the opportunity for families to participate in our programming who otherwise would not know that our program is available to the children they serve. Because our services are completely free of charge, there are many children and teens who are able to receive the support and care they are desperate for, in an area where our local social service organizations are over-run with more needs than resources available. CPYR provides priority scheduling for these families that enter CPYR through our referrals, and we led 56 sessions through our referral partnerships in 2024. In-Kind Donations & Donor Partnerships:-In-kind donations of non-perishable food, clothing, shoes, and all-weather gear continues to rise. We had 42 in-kind donors who gave a total of $23,425 in 2024. We believe this number continues to grow in part because of our improved communication to the public, but also largely due to families who have received from the ministry that are coming back to bless other families in need. We received hundreds of in-kind donations in 2024, and we expanded to partner with a global non-profit called Lionheart Ministries, which sends Christ-centered childrens books to be distributed to any & all visitors who want resources to break down the message of the Gospel into palatable conversations with kids. -In 2024, Crystal Peaks partnered with a local grocery store to receive their nearly expired food items, and the Ranch team gathered hundreds of pounds of frozen meats and shelf-stable pantry goods weekly. Over the course of last year, we received a plethora of frozen fish, beef, pork, chicken, and turkey, as well as canned goods like tomatoes, salad dressings, sauces, drinks, and snacks. Our mission was to give away as much food as we could to local homeless and family displacement centers, so our team dropped off many truckloads of items there before bringing goods to the Ranch to give to families in need in our community. This new food ministry partnership has aided in hundreds of people being able to have food security. Partnered with the produce we grow at Crystal Peaks, this food ministry has blossomed into a comprehensive food bank thats accessible to all.
- $136,297 spent. Empowering the Ministry Service Accomplishments in 2024-In 2024, three new similar ministry in the United States were established as a part of our similar ministry program. Our similar ministry programs are 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporations launched by individuals inspired by attending our Ignition events and then continuing to receive ongoing consultation from the Crystal Peaks staff.-In 2024, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch hosted and conducted its 26th Ignition event. There were seventy attendees from sixteen states in the United States and two international countries (Canada and Peru). The Crystal Peaks Ignition event is not only a time for individuals to learn the nuts and bolts of how to create a similar program; it is also an opportunity for great challenge and encouragement. Participants are able to meet with like-minded folks from across the nation and beyond. By doing so, great bonds of support are forged, and many ideas, obstacles, and dreams are shared. During this event, the most relevant topics for starting and maintaining a similar ministry are taught. Some of these topics include:1. Child Horse Safety2. Communication with Kids3. Basic Natural Horsemanship4. Equine Herd Management5. Daily Infrastructure6. Staff and Volunteer Programming7. Fundraising8. Obtaining a 501(c)(3)9. Legalities of non-profits-In 2021, Ignition's fundamental classes were filmed and utilized to provide continued guidance to those starting similar ministries in 2024.-Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch hosted its 11th ministry retreat, Inferno. This event is set aside specifically for our similar ministry program. It affords time for deep spiritual retreat, restoration, prayer, growth, leadership development, collaboration, and program refinement for the next ministry season. In 2024, twenty-five similar ministries were represented by 67 leaders and staff. This event encompassed attendees from fourteen states.-At the end of 2024, the ranch had 92 similar programs active in thirty-three states and two additional countries (Australia and Canada). These similar ministries abide by the Crystal Peaks mission to further the CPYR Ministry Model worldwide.-Four similar ministry programs hosted regional support clinics in 2024 in the East Coast and Midwest regions.-In 2024, the founders and/or staff of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch personally visited six similar programs in the US to offer support, consult, and speak at their events.-Crystal Peaks continued to provide a Facebook group: CPYR Similar Ministry Leaders. The Facebook group offers an affordable way to connect Active Similar Ministries on a deeper level through collaboration and resource sharing with fellow leaders. In 2024, the Facebook page now has 128 members.-Crystal Peaks continued to provide a Facebook page: Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch Empowering the Ministry. The Facebook page permits those inspired by Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch to come together for further education and support in starting a similar ministry. In 2024, the Facebook page reached 3,700 members.
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
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 December 2024.
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 October 1997.
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.