Funding Requirements

The EQUUS Foundation has one of the most comprehensive and impartial verification processes to recognize equine charities for their transparency and accountability to the public and to inspire donor confidence in the charities selected to receive grants each year. Financial support is provided only to those organizations that are both fully transparent & accountable to the public and have attained either the Guardian designation or Mentor accreditation annually in the year that financial support is awarded.

The EQUUS Foundation recognizes equine charities and awards financial support on the basis of the organization's equine welfare practices and the assurance by the organization that any activity that incorporates equine interactions and/or the equine environment, mounted or ground-based, including any Equine Assisted Services (EAS) and/or Community Outreach programs, must safeguard the comfort and dignity of America's horses and make the quality of life of our equine partners paramount. Review our eligibility requirements here.

All organizations must publicly attest that the interactions between their equines and people are mutually beneficial and conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for Human-Equine Interactions.

For organizations that conduct programs involving interactions with equines, funding is not an endorsement of the quality or effectiveness of the interactions between horses and people. The EQUUS Foundation expects the people experiencing these interactions to judge the quality and effectiveness of the services they receive.

For organizations that specifically conduct Equine Assisted Services (EAS) programs, the organization must publicly attest that they operate in compliance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines for Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS) and abide by and utilize the definitions contained in the documents, Optimal Terminology for Services in the United States That Incorporate Horses to Benefit People: A Consensus Document and EAS-Definitions-Guide-for-Researchers.

The amount of financial support from the EQUUS Foundation awarded annually depends on the amount of funds raised by the EQUUS Foundation over the course of the year and the evaluation by the EQUUS Foundation of the merits of the organization's equine welfare and business practices, the needs of the organization and the organization's operating budget.

A select group of grant recipients are recognized as Horse Whisperer Award Recipients each year by the EQUUS Foundation Board of Directors.

If you have concerns about the organizations on our Equine Welfare Network and/or those that receive funding from the EQUUS Foundation, please contact us here.

Equine Welfare Grants

The EQUUS Foundation Funding program primarily consists of its Equine Welfare Grants. Only organizations that receive the Guardian Seal of Transparency in 2026 are eligible to receive Equine Welfare Grants in 2026.

Equine Welfare Grants (formerly known as Transparency Awards) range from $500 to $5,000 and do not exceed 5% of an organization's operating budget. Equine Welfare Grants are to be used to underwrite the costs associated with the care of horses, such as veterinary, dental, and farrier care, horse feed, supplements, bedding, horse gear, equipment, and supplies as well as alternative treatments and interventions.

The Guardian information serves as the grant application for Equine Welfare Grants. Submission of a separate grant application for Equine Welfare Grants is not required.

Is Your Organization Eligible?

I. Financial support is provided only to organizations that are classified by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3) public charities, and in some instances, government agencies or entities, or educational institutions, that meet the specific criteria set by the EQUUS Foundation.

II. Financial support is not provided to individuals, or to organizations that do not meet the eligiblity critera required to attain the Guardian designation, including but not limited to:
1) Are not defined as tax-exempt public charities under IRS code section 501(c)(3);
2) Are private foundations as defined in IRS code section 509(a);
3) Are not located in a U.S. state or territory;
4) Have been in existence for less than one full operating year as a 501(c)(3);
5) Have an operating budget of less than $10,000 or organizations that do not have sufficient cash reserves to offset net losses in any given year;
6) Discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, national origin, disability, handicap, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law;
8) Are political organizations.

III. Financial support from the EQUUS Foundation is not to be used for:
1) Operating Deficits;
2) Fundraising activities, such as galas, benefits, dinners, and sporting events, goodwill advertising, souvenir journals or programs;
3) Compensation, training, or certification of individuals;
4) Scholarships or financial aid;
5) Capital expenditures;
6) Travel expenses for individuals or groups or fees for conferences or conventions;
7) The promotion of religious education or religious purposes; programs that require participants to be of a certain faith or to participate in religious activities or services; or programs that require participation in prayer, worship, or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered;
8) Political or lobbying activities.

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