Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center

What it reported doing in 2024

A horse can change a life! Horseback riding and interaction with horses results in many physical and mental benefits, including improved strength and balance and increased independence and self-esteem. The center provides equine programs to approximately 1,000 individuals of all ages with special needs annually. With the help of 250 volunteers annually (typically serving approximately 15,000 service hours per year) and 32 equine partners, the center is able to support "little victories and big impacts" every day! The center offers a diverse range of services. In addition to the largest program of therapeutic riding, the "gaitway high school" is an alternative school for students who thrive (continued on schedule o) best in a non-traditional academic environment. This experiential program is highly successful in teaching job and life skills due to the motivation of the horses and the natural environment. To date, 107 students have graduated. Additionally, more than 200 veterans of the united states armed forces participate in specialized programming that helps them cope with and overcome the physical and emotional challenges of military service. Other offerings include summer camp, carriage driving, a mobile miniature horse program, a reading program and equine mental health programming. Ridership sponsors make therapeutic riding financially possible for our participants. Donations subsidize 75% of the lesson cost for all. In addition, 92% of the schools and groups need additional financial support, as well as 77% of the overall student population. Essential academic, physical, and emotional benefits are derived from significant fundraising efforts for the ridership program.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 64.9%; rating input score 65
• Program expense ratio: 81.6%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.85 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 20.9%; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.54; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 19.1%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.6% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.6% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings