An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.
An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.
Organization Mission
We provide equine-assisted programs that foster joy and well-being through connections with our horses and team members in an uplifting and inclusive environment.
Rating Information
Great
This charity's score is 92%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Measurement. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members
10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 8 independent members
10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None
10 out of 10 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Tax Form Disclosures and Policies
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed
3 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Missing
0 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes
3 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website Disclosures
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website as stated on Form 990 - Missing
0 out of 3 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Metrics
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 3.67%
15 out of 15 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 78.06%
25 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
Additional Information
Total Revenue and Expenses - Data Available
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Salary of Key Persons - Data Available
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Jackie Saxton, Executive Director
$32,140
Angela Davis, Director
$0
Kevin Szongas, Director
$0
Dori Desantis, Director
$0
Laurie Rosenfeld, Director
$0
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2022
IRS Published Data (Business Master File) - Data Available
Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes. 509(a)(2) (BMF foundation code: 16)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
Data Sources (IRS Forms 990) - Data Available
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage accountability and finance data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Helping Horse Inc.) or EIN (581852114) in the 'Search Term' field.
Impact & Measurement
Not Currently Scored
Helping Horse Inc. cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Measurement methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Does your organization collect feedback (i.e., perceptions, opinions, concerns) from the people meant to ultimately benefit from your mission?
Yes
Feedback Usage
100 out of 100 points
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations
To inform the development of new programs/projects
To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
To understand client needs and how we can help them achieve their desired outcomes
Practices
100 out of 100 points
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually
We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible
We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us
We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.)
We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response
We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
We share the feedback we received with the people we serve
Challenges
100 out of 100 points
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
It is difficult to get people to respond to requests for feedback
It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve
Equity Strategies™
Unscored
0% of Culture & Community score
Leadership & Adaptability
Score
100
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission.
We provide equine-assisted programs that foster joy and well-being through connections with our horses and team members in an uplifting and inclusive environment.
Vision Statement
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
To provide stimulating and engaging equine-assisted riding and unmounted lessons to students with various special needs to benefit physical, mental, and emotional growth.
To serve as a support community for parents, caregivers, and families to share in the joy of the growth of their loved ones.
To offer fulfilling opportunities for our volunteers to make a significant impact through connecting with our students and working with our horses.
Strategy Goals
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Purchase the farmland, buildings, and other infrastructure on which we currently operate by December 31, 2023. Achieving this goal will allow us to add 20% more students by December 31, 2026.
Goal Two: Develop and implement a First Responders and Veterans (FRV) equine-assisted, unmounted wellness program by spring 2023. Targeting to provide 20 sessions by December 31, 2023.
Goal Three: Complete capital improvements to the farm including;
1) covered riding arena to reduce or eliminate weather-related lesson cancelations
2) new barn for additional horses
*Dependent on goal #1
Leadership
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Investment in Leadership Development
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development.
Helping Horse has invested in the growth and development of its Board by setting aside two Board planning/development days per year. These days are used for Board education as well as team development.
Helping Horse has also invested in the development and PATH certification of instructors in therapeutic horsemanship.
Helping Horse pays for the Board President's membership in the Nonprofit Leadership Lab.
External Focus on Mobilizing Mission
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Partnered with the Latham Foundation to implement a First Responders and Veterans (FRV) equine-assisted, unmounted wellness program.
Community-based events such as; Summer BBQ; Holiday Festival; sponsoring and participating in the Wendell, NC Fall Harvest Festival.
Collaborate on best policies and practices with similar programs in the area.
PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) membership and collaboration nationally with PATH members.
Promote Helping Horse's mission via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, email Newsletters, and direct mail.
Partnership with NC State Employees Combined Campaign which promotes the mission of Helping Horse with NC State Employees who in turn may select Helping Horse to receive charitable donations on a regular basis.
Adaptability
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Investment in Leadership Development
30 out of 30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Helping Horse recognized that our local first responders and veterans needed more options to support their mental health. Our new First Responders and Veterans (FRV) program allows each participant to learn unmounted horsemanship skills with a focus on building equine relationships. The program aims to promote overall health and wellness utilizing the horse-human connection to achieve the following goals.
● Provide a calm and peaceful space that allows time to take a pause and relax
● Through working with the horse, build self-awareness of being mindful in the present
moment
● Create a space that allows the participant to experience the positive effects of nature
and being outdoors
The pilot program launched in March 2023. The program enrolled the first cohort of students in April 2023.
Helping Horse successfully navigated the pandemic by following local, state, and federal COVID restrictions. Most families of students chose to donate lesson fees paid during periods of COVID disruptions versus requesting refunds. As a result, the pandemic had a very limited negative financial impact on Helping Horse. As of August 2022, North Carolina lifted its COVID restrictions.
Helping Horse implemented a ground (or unmounted) program for students who could not continue in a mounted program.
A Program Manager was hired to handle day to day operations of Heping Horses' programs.
Overall, Helping Horse operations have been stable for the period 2022 to May 2023.