MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

PO BOX 551, STEVENSVILLE, MT 59870-0551

In care of

% JANE HEATH

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

JANE HEATH, PO BOX 551, STEVENSVILLE, MT 59870

Signed the 990

JANE HEATH, President

Phone

(406) 264-5300

Website

www.montanahorsesanctuary.org

Return prepared by

Gary Kasper & Company Inc

Mission

The Sanctuarys mission is to provide a wide array of assistance to in-crisis and abused horses. We provide support via education and financial assistance to Montanas horse owners, rescuers and law enforcement.

Program accomplishments

• The Sanctuarys mission is to help Montanas in-crisis and abused horses by providing financial and educational support to rescuers, horse owners and animal control agencies. We provide financial assistance, education and hands-on support. Read on to learn how we are doing.From 2004 - 2024: Celebrating 20 years rescuing horses and helping horse folk in Montana: The Sanctuary became a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization in 2004. Our work until 2021 was the active rescue of horses in crisis, mostly those who had been seized by law enforcement during abuse cases. Over the years we took in and rehabilitated, then rehomed to adopters more than 200 Montana horses. Today our primary mission is giving financial support to the following:- Horse owners in financial crisis: feed, veterinary and farrier care- Private horse rescues: feed, veterinary and farrier care- Non-Profit horse rescues and sanctuaries: general and emergency support- Law Enforcement during abuse case seizures of horses: feed, veterinary and farrier support and placement assistance.Our secondary missions are:- Providing education to the horse-loving people of Montana through direct educational and resource support as well as classes and workshops.- Providing expertise and boots-on-the-ground support to the horse rescuers of Montana- Continued support to people who have adopted horses from our organization in the form of expertise, providing veterinary support and hands-on help. All horses adopted from the Sanctuary also have the safety net of an adopt-back contract which means that if their adopter is ever unable to continue caring for them they will be returned to us. We never want a horse we placed to fall through the cracks ever again.Following is a summary of the work we did in 2024.Assistance to horse owners in financial crisis - total spent in 2024 = $6,669.55. A great example of this program involved a young horse owner in Livingston. About a month before she applied to us for help, her mare received a joint injection to treat arthritis but the injection caused a joint infection and required hospitalized treatment. While at the veterinary hospital, the mare developed a serious colic which led to surgery. The mare was back home and recuperating when, for some reason, her abdominal stitches tore loose and released her intestines! Back to the hospital! The incision was stitched again and she finally went back home weeks later. The road to recovery was long with daily treatment of the healing (again) incision as well as a special girdle-type apparatus to hold her abdomen intact. With the help of her devoted owner, the horse healed well and today is able to do light work under saddle. Another young horse owner is a member of Pony Club. Her veterinarian suspected the girls mare had digestive ulcers, which were making her uncomfortable and constantly on the verge of a colic. This lovely, sweet mare was feeling cranky and miserable. Her human is an exceptional 17-year-old girl. She pays all of her horses care costs working a job as a farm hand at a local horse therapy facility after school and on weekends. She asked us to help her pay for further diagnostic testing which included another veterinary exam and endoscopy. She asked that she be allowed to invite fellow Pony Club members to observe the procedure and learn more about ulcers, which are very common in domestic horses. On the day of the exam, the Pony Club members observed and learned a lot. It was remarkable literally seeing inside the horse! The endoscopy showed ulcers and while they were small they were causing obvious pain and behavioral issues. Our support to the horse owner paid for the exam and procedure, as well as the medication the vet prescribed. Today the young woman and her mare are back to riding and enjoying each others company and the horse is returning to full health.Assistance to private rescuers: $11,630.64: Among other help to private rescuers we gave and continue to give support for two elderly geldings in northwest Montana. A neighbor noticed the horses in the next door pasture werent being cared for and in the winter their pasture was eaten down and they lost a lot of weight. She began feeding them and when law enforcement was unable to find the owner she decided to pay for their hoof, dental and veterinary care. The now-rescuer has an average income so covering the expenses of 2 abandoned horses in addition to caring for her own 2 horses was a sizeable burden. She kept at it for about 3 years until finally one of her neighbors called the Sanctuary and told us about the abandoned horses and asked if we could help with costs. We helped by paying all her past and current expenses. About a year later, law enforcement found the owner of the horses who said she no longer wanted them. Then our board decided that these sweet, deserving horses needed a safe retirement. We voted to pay their costs of care until the ends oftheir lives. As of 2024, both horses are now healthy elders, enjoying the food, care and love they so richly deserve. They also eat special supplements, medications and herbs three to four times a day. Support to fellow non-profit rescues and sanctuaries: total spent in 2024 =$6,649.81. One of our support projects in 2024 helped a rescue organization in southeastern Montana which unfortunately had to close down. The founder had a major life change and was unable to continue operations. At the time there were numerous horses at the facility who all needed forever homes. The founder did a masterful job of finding permanent homes for nearly all the horses. But some remained. The Sanctuary helped for about six months with costs of care and boarding of the remaining horses while they found forever homes. Finally, one horse remained, a mustang mare who had arrived shortly before the rescue organization closed. The mare was previously traumatized and hard to approach. We provided the organization support to send the mare to a professional trainer familiar with BLM mustangs and the trauma they endure during capture and after. She spent two months with the trainer and is now well on her way to being comfortable and safe with humans. The trainer feels she may even someday become a saddle horse for the right person. While we were sad that a fellow organization had to halt operations, we were glad they contacted us and reached out for assistance. No organization is perfect and all of us in rescue world benefit from helping and supporting each other. We are stronger when we work together. Helping the folks who adopted horses from our organization: total spent in 2024= $30,816.37. It seems obvious that adopters are a huge part of what makes the Sanctuary successful. We hope that all adopters are consistently able to care for their horses over the lifetimes of those equines. But sometimes they need assistance in the form of expertise or financial help. One of our programs is called the Supported Adopters. This program paired potential adopters who are experienced, knowledgeable and caring horse people who have the facility and time for an adopted horse but not the finances for another equine family member. The horses in this program are not saddle horses but rather what we call pasture pals. Most are elderly horses from 20-33 years old. The Sanctuary provides all costs of care for its supported adoptees as well as any care expertise the adopters may need. In 2024 we supported nine horses in this program. Their annual costs of care average about $3,300/per horse and they all have loving, caring homes. Its a fabulous win-win.Education for horse people and fellow rescue groups: total spent in 2024 =$2,405.43. A western Montana Pony Club leader, Leslie Nalls of Victor, approached us in fall 2023. Montana has experienced a huge influx of new residents, many of whom are buying horses but have little knowledge of horse care. Leslie first noticed this phenomenon with the new members of Pony Club. When she mentioned it to her veterinarian, he wholeheartedly agreed that more education of new horse owners was urgently needed. We teamed up with Leslie to offer a two-afternoon class to teach people interested in buying their first horse. We called it Horse Ownership 101. The first four hours help people walk through the process of deciding if they really have time and resources to care for a horse and if so, how to find the right horse.The second afternoon, also four hours, explains how to set up a safe horse facility at home or find a good boarding facility, basics of feeding and fundamental safety. Each participant receives a 3-ring binder full of information about horse ownership and care. The response was highly positive from the people who attended. As of this writing we have filled a February 2025 class and have more scheduled. We also are exploring ways to offer the class online, nationally. Leslie is working on a Level 2 class to help people address the basics of handling their horses and safely hauling them i
  Expenses $70,882 · revenue $353

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

20-1266410

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

2004

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990-N (e-Postcard)

Category (NTEE)

Animal-related (D20)

Assets (IRS master file)

$263,086

Income (IRS master file)

$49,071

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 20-1266410).

Questions about MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY

What is the EIN of MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY?

The employer identification number (EIN) of MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY is 20-1266410.

Is MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2004.

Are donations to MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY file?

Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less.

When is the next return of MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.

Who is the principal officer of MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names JANE HEATH.

Who are the officers and directors of MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 4 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.

How much revenue does MONTANA HORSE SANCTUARY have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $49,071, expenses of $79,367 and total assets of $263,086 at year end.

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