The EQUUS Foundation brings together interested individuals with equestrian and horse-related organizations across America with the goal of building a support base of equine enthusiasts and advocates through its Equine Welfare Network consisting of the Equine Charity Network, Equine Education Network, and the Champions program for individuals.

The listing on the Equine Charity Network is provided free of charge to eligible organizations to help educate visitors about their programs, and raise awareness of the impact of horses throughout the United States. The listing of an organization on this site does not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the EQUUS Foundation.

Eligibility

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To be accepted as a public charity on our network:
I. The organization must certify that
•  The organization is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as tax-exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) to which contributions are tax deductible pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 170(c)(2) as a public charity and the organization is not a private foundation.
•  The organization provides or conducts real services, benefits, assistance, or program activities related to horse welfare in the United States.
• The organization prepares and submits to the IRS a complete copy of the organization's IRS Form 990 or certifies that the organization is not required to submit an IRS Form 990.
•  The organization conducts publicity and promotional activities based upon its actual program and operations, and that these activities are truthful and non-deceptive, include all material facts, and make no exaggerated or misleading claims.
• The organization has operated as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity for at least one full operating year.
• The organization does not 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.

II. Organization must must provide programs that:
• Shelter, rehabilitate, and retrain America's horses at risk of abuse, neglect and slaughter, and re-home them with careers as athletes, companions, teachers and especially healers.
• Provide opportunities for horses to change people's lives, especially people with special needs.

III. Organization must have a presence on the Internet and ensure that the content displayed is kept current and based on actual programs and operations.

IV. The EQUUS Foundation expects all charities that are accepted on our network, regardless of their size and scope, to be accountable and transparent to the public. The EQUUS Foundation requires that all charities be recognized by GuideStar at a minimum of its Silver Level.


GuideStar is a free information service specializing in U.S. nonprofit companies. For Silver status, you will need to provide your organization's address, contact name, and e-mail, mission statement, your leadership (Board), program names and descriptions, and an audited financial report OR basic financial information if your organization is not audited. This is information you should have readily at hand.

Please update your organization's GuideStar profile at https://www.guidestar.org/Login.aspx with the required information. If you have not done so already, you will need to create an account; otherwise sign in to update the report. Click the yellow tab, Update Nonprofit Report, and follow the online instructions.

Thank you for expressing interest in joining the Equine Charity Network. Please review the eligibility requirements above before completing the application. Please use proper grammar when completing this form. Check your spelling and do not use ALL CAPS.

I. GuideStar Profile

Please copy and paste your GuideStar link here:
Your GuideStar link must reflect that your organization is recognized by GuideStar at a minimum of its Silver Level.

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II. IRS Tax Exemption Letter

Only Acrobat (.pdf) files can be uploaded. Please avoid using special characters in the file name. Keep the file name short and simple.
NOTE: If your IRS Tax Determination Letter does not reflect current information about your organization, i.e., if there has been a name or address change, etc., you should request an "affirmation" letter from the IRS to confirm your good standing.
Contact IRS by phone: 877-829-5500
Contact IRS by fax: 513-263-4330
Contact IRS by mail:
Internal Revenue Service
Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division
Customer Service
P.O. Box 2508, Room 4024
Cincinnati, OH 45201

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III. General and Contact Information

*Organization

*Tax ID Enter as XX-XXXXXXX

*Street

*City

State/US Territory AEAKALAPARAZCACOCTDCDEFLGAHIIAIDILINKSKYLAMAMDMEMIMNMOMSMTNCNDNENHNJNMNVNYOHOKORPAPRRISCSDTNTXUTVAVTWAWIWVWY

*Zip (5-digit)

*Website http:// https://  

NOTE: If your organization is involved with programs other than those that are equine-related, please provide the direct link to your equine-related programs on your website above.

*Email

*Re-enter Email

*Phone Enter as XXX-XXX-XXXX

*Year Founded Enter as yyyy

CONTACT INFORMATION

*Contact Name

*Contact Phone Enter as XXX-XXX-XXXX

*Contact Email

*Re-Enter Email
The email address of the primary contact will serve as the login email.

IV. Purpose and Program Information

*Select your PRIMARY mission type/focus:  Horse Welfare Public Service
Select Horse Welfare if your organization is primarily involved with the rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, retirement and re-homing of horses.
Select Public Service if your organization is primarily involved with providing Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies to individuals with special needs.
Select Sport and Recreation if your organization is primarily involved with the equestrian sport and/or equine related recreational activities.


*Please provide your purpose or mission limited to 50 words.



*Please describe briefly in 100 words or less how your organization is involved with horses.



Please answer the following questions:

   *1-a.  Does your organization provide programs involved with horse rescue, foster care, rehabilitation, adoption, and/or retirement?
Please select Yes or No.    Yes No
Answer NO if your organization is primarily involved with EAAT and uses rescue horses unless your organization has a specific program aimed at the rescue, adoption and/or retirement of horses in transition.

   *1-b.  If yes, select one answer below that describes the primary activity of your organization.
            Rescue & Adoption Rescue & Retirement (Sanctuary) Rescue, Adoption & Retirement (Sanctuary) Retirement (Sanctuary) only

   *2-a.  Does your organization provide equine-assisted activities and/or therapies (EAAT) using certified instructors, specialists, therapists, counselors, trainers and/or facilitators for individuals with special needs? Please select Yes or No.    Yes No
Click here for the definition of SPECIAL NEEDS and EAAT.

   *2-b.  Does your organization provide community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses? Please select Yes or No.    Yes No

   *3.  Which of the following best describes your organization's responsibility for the care of horses:
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of horses.
Our organization uses horses to provide our services that are cared for and sheltered by another organization(s).
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of horses and also uses horses to provide our services that are cared for and sheltered by another organization(s).
Our organization does not use, care for, or shelter horses to fulfill our mission.

V. Petitions and Certifications

•  I hereby petition the EQUUS Foundation, Inc., to accept the organization named in this application as a charity on the Equine Charity Network.

•  I certify that I have the authority to make this petition and that the representations made in this application are, to the best of my knowledge, truthful and accurate. I further certify that I will notify the EQUUS Foundation in writing if any of the statements affirmed in this application become untrue or inaccurate.

•  I certify that the organization named in this application is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as tax-exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) to which contributions are tax deductible pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 170(c)(2) and that the organization is not a private foundation.

•  I certify that the organization named in this application has been in existence as a 501(c)(3) charity for at least one full operating year.

•  I certify that the organization named in this application provides or conducts real services, benefits, assistance, or program activities in the United States related to horse welfare, or involving horses to benefit the public.

•  I certify that the organization named in this application submits to the IRS a complete copy of the organization's IRS Form 990; IRS Form 990-EZ, or IRS Form 990-N annually.

•  I certify an active and responsible governing body directs the organization named in this application, whose voting members have no material conflict of interest and serve without compensation.

•  I certify that the organization named in this application effectively uses the funds contributed for its announced purposes.

•  I certify that the organization named in this application conducts publicity based upon its actual programs and operations, and that these activities are truthful and non-deceptive, include all material facts, and make no exaggerated or misleading claims.

•  I certify that the organization named in this application does not 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.

*Name of Authorizer (This acts as your signature)

*Job Title of Authorizer

*Enter Ht156@ Here:   
The answer to the above question is required for spam control.

*Required

Definitions

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Special Needs: Any difficulty or difficulties (such as a physical, emotional, behavioral, or learning disability or impairment) that causes an individual to require additional or specialized services or accommodations (such as in education or recreation)

Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies:
Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA)
Equine-assisted activities are any specific center activity, e.g.. therapeutic riding, mounted or ground activities, grooming and stable management, shows, parades, demonstrations, etc., in which the center’s clients, participants, volunteers, instructors and equines are involved.

Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT)
Equine-assisted therapy is treatment that incorporates equine activities and/or the equine environment. Rehabilitative goals are related to the patient’s needs and the medical professional’s standards of practice.

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)
Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for eductional, professional and personal goals through equine-assisted activities. PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for people workin in the EAAT field and guidelines for those providing EAL.

Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP)
EFP is defined as an interactive process in which a licensed mental health professional working with or as an appropriately credentialed equine professional, partners with suitable equine(s) to address psychotherapy goals set forth by the mental health professional and the client.

Hippotherapy
The American Hippotherapy Association, Inc., defines hippotherapy as a physical, occupational or speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. The word hippotherapy derives from the Greek word hippos, meaning horse. The term hippotherapy refers to the use of the movement of the horse as a treatment strategy by physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech/language pathologists to address impairments, functional limitations and disabilities in patients with neuromotor and sensory dysfunction. This treatment strategy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional goals.

Interactive Vaulting
Interactive Vaulting is an activity in which the students perform movements on and around the horse. These movements can be very simple such as sitting without holding onto the surcingle or a more elaborate vaulting position move such as kneeling or standing on the horse. It all depends on the individual needs of the vaulter.

Therapeutic Driving
Carriage Driving offers students with physical, mental, sensory or emotional disabilities the rewards of interaction and control of a horse or pony while driving from a carriage seat or in their own wheelchair in a carriage modified to accommodate their wheelchair.

Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic riding is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals with special needs.

PATH International definitions as of 1/1/2018.