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Taking the Reins

EIN 95-4688657 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TAKING THE REINS' MISSION IS ADVANCING GIRL POWER THROUGH HORSEPOWER. TAKING THE REINS INSPIRES AT-RISK GIRLS TO ACT WITH COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE BY INTERACTING WITH HORSES, FARM ANIMALS, AND NATURE.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$851,073
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
11
Volunteers
58
Highest pay
$100,000, executive dir.

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 32% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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 (6)
  1. $392,889 spent. EQUESTRIAN/EQUINE PROGRAM - SERVED 275 GIRLS, AGES 11-17STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN RIDING LESSONS DURING WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS, LEARNING PROPER HAND, SEAT, LEG, AND VOICE COMMANDS. ALONG THE WAY, THEY ALSO BUILT TEAMWORK SKILLSDEVELOPING COMPASSION AND CONFIDENCE AS LEADERS WHILE WORKING WITH HORSES. OUTSIDE OF RIDING, STUDENTS COMPETED IN HORSE SHOWS TO TEST THEIR SKILLS, TOOK ON HORSE AND BARN CARE TASKS, AND LEARNED ABOUT GROOMING AND MONITORING FOR INJURIES OR ILLNESS. THEY ALSO STUDIED THE BASICS OF EQUINE NUTRITION AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ENGAGED IN HANDS-ON EQUINE SCIENCE SESSIONS COVERING TOPICS LIKE HORSE BEHAVIOR, ANATOMY, NUTRITION, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND REPRODUCTION. IN 2024, THE TTR HORSE SHOW TEAM COMPETED AT THE WINE COUNTRY CLASSIC IN TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA, EARNING DOZENS OF RIBBONS ACROSS MULTIPLE RIDING CLASSES.
  2. $120,821 spent. URBAN FARM SEED-TO-SKILLET GARDEN PROGRAM - SERVED 100 GIRLS, AGES 11-17GIRLS LEARNED ABOUT GARDENING, STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND, HEALTHY COOKING IN TTRS KITCHEN, AND ENGAGED IN STEAM-BASED PROJECTS. STUDENTS COOKED HEALTHY MEALS AND LEARNED ABOUT HEALTHY EATING AND FOOD PREPARATION. GIRLS ALSO USED TTR'S GARDEN FOR RESEARCH ON FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY BY WAY OF TTR'S GOATS, DUCKS, PONIES, AND CHICKENS TO COMPLETE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECTS
  3. $58,268 spent. YOUTH EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM (YES) - SERVED 21 HIGH SCHOOL GIRLSQUALIFIED TTR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH TTR PROGRAMS FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE-PREP ACTIVITIES, COLLEGE TOURS, AND LIFE-SKILLS WORKSHOPS AND HAVE ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND COLLEGE TUITIONPROVIDED 12, 2-HOUR COLLEGE-PREP AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS TO QUALIFIED TTR STUDENTS.
  4. $45,797 spent. COWGIRL CORNER - SERVED 55 GIRLS, AGES 8-10GIRLS EXPERIENCE/LEARN ABOUT GARDENING AND FARM ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. AT AGE 11, GIRLS CAN ENROLL IN TTR'S CORE PROGRAMS. IN 2022, GIRLS ENJOYED TAKING CARE OF PONIES, FEEDING THE DUCKS AND CHICKENS, GARDENING, ARTS & CRAFTS, AND THE OUTDOORS AT TTR'S FUN FARM!
  5. $41,253 spent. LEARNING CENTER PROJECT - SERVES GIRLS AND BOYS, AGES 5-17, PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS TO TTR'S FARM, AS WELL AS WEEKEND AND SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING HIKING, GARDENING, TRAIL RIDING, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS. ONE HUNDRED STUDENTS PARTICIPATE.
  6. $3,094 spent. THE JR. BOARD PROGRAM - OPEN TO GIRLS IN GRADES 912THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO GIRLS IN GRADES 912 WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN TTR PROGRAMS FOR AT LEAST THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. EACH YEAR, FIVE TO EIGHT QUALIFIED TEENS ARE ELECTED BY TTR STUDENTS TO JOIN. MEMBERS BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS, DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND BOARD GOVERNANCE, AND GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND FUNDRAISING. THROUGH TRAINING SESSIONS AND PROJECT WORK, THEY LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

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 2024.

    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 September 1998.

    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.