EQUUS Foundation Strengthens Its Commitment to Transparency

The EQUUS Foundation has made changes to the requirements for charity participation in EQUUS Foundation programs as part of its ongoing efforts to bring recognition to the equine charities in the United States that are fully transparent and accountable to the public with respect to their business and equine welfare practices.

"Our goal," said EQUUS Foundation President, Lynn Coakley, "is for every equine charity in the United States to have the opportunity to demonstrate that they are transparent and accountable to the public through their participation in the EQUUS Foundation."

"Our programs are aimed at empowering equine charities to operate at the highest standards for equine care and service by providing them with financial support, recognition, guidance, and resources. We welcome all equine charities to attend the webinar on November 1 outlining the eligibility requirements for participation and funding opportunities."

Additional information will be required to continue to participate on the EQUUS Foundation Equine Welfare Network, including information pertaining to your organization's governance and staff, business and equine welfare practices, and a census of the equines that are currently involved in your organization's programs. The estimated time to complete this additional information is between 30 and 60 minutes.

The application cycle is open now and will close on December 15, 2023.

Only those charities that have attained the annual Guardian designation are eligible to receive financial support from the EQUUS Foundation. The 2024 Guardian cycle opens on January 1, 2024.

New for 2024, while the information we require for a charity to attain the Guardian information remains essentially unchanged, there will be a two-step process to submit the required information - with the first step required for all charities participating on the Equine Welfare Network, including Guardians and Mentors -- and the second step required for all charities seeking to attain or renew the Guardian designation.

For all Member and Guardian charities, including Mentors:
To continue to participate on the Equine Welfare Network, the charity will need to review, update and submit the information required for participation between January 1, 2024, and January 31, 2024. If the information is not provided by January 31, the charity will not be eligible to attain the Guardian designation until the next cycle that starts on January 1, 2025.

The EQUUS Foundation will conduct a review of the information upon submission on a first-come, first-served basis. The review process generally takes four to six weeks. If the information submitted is INCOMPLETE, the EQUUS Foundation will notify the organization and, depending on the extent of the incomplete information, the charity may be considered ineligible to attain the Guardian designation until the next cycle that starts on January 1, 2025.

For all charities seeking to attain or renew the Guardian designation including Mentors:
Following the review of the completed information, those charities seeking to attain or renew the Guardian designation will be provided with a link requiring submission of additional information within 30 days from the time the link is provided. This additional information includes a statement of the charity's goals and accomplishments as well as financial and census information based on the charity's programs and activities during 2023.

The EQUUS Foundation will conduct another review upon submission of the additional information and notify the charity whether or not the Guardian designation has been attained. The second review process generally takes four to six weeks.

Only equine charities designated as "Guardians" are eligible to receive financial support.
Funding opportunities include the Equine Welfare Grants (formerly known as Transparency Awards), Champions Win A Grant program, Brooke USA Bridge Grant program, the PATH CTRI Matching Grant program, and the new Lafitte De Muze Safety Net Grant program as well as participation in EQUUS Foundation fundraising campaigns designed for Guardian participation.

New for 2024, eligibility for the EQUUS Foundation Equine Welfare Grants will be based on the EQUUS Foundation's review and rating of the Guardian's business and equine welfare practices and the amount of funds raised by the EQUUS Foundation over the course of the year. The selection of the recipients of Equine Welfare Grants will be made in August 2024 and announced in September 2024. Please review our Funding opportunities at https://equusfoundation.org/funding.