Healing of Our Veterans Equine Services (H.O.O.V.E.S.)
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Healing of Our Veterans Equine Services (H.O.O.V.E.S.) does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.
H.O.O.V.E.S. does not meet this Standard because its board of directors did not:
- Review the performance of the chief executive officer in the past two years.
Standard 11 (Financial Statements)
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.
H.O.O.V.E.S. does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization states it does not have financial statements that were reviewed by a certified public accountant (CPA). A review is an accounting service providing some assurance to interested parties as to the reliability of financial data without the CPA conducting an examination in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
H.O.O.V.E.S. does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2025 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
- Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.
Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.
H.O.O.V.E.S. does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://hooves.us, does not indicate:
- What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 2, 3, 7, 13, 15, 16
Healing of Our Veterans Equine Services (H.O.O.V.E.S.) meets the remaining 10 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
“to provide an equine-guided transformative experience that promotes sustainable personal growth, harnesses the power of healing, and inspires the realization of miracles in everyday life.”
Year, State Incorporated:
2010, OH
Also Known As:
HOOVES Riverbend Equine Therapy
Healing of our Veterans Equine Services (H.O.O.V.E.S.) offers experiences designed to empower individuals, particularly veterans and first responders, on their journey toward healing. The organization reports that these sessions provide a safe, supportive, and immersive environment where participants can break free from emotional barriers, rediscover their purpose, and reconnect with themselves and others. H.O.O.V.E.S. utilizes equine-assisted healing, an approach that leverages horses to facilitate emotional breakthroughs. The organization reports that, over the course of five days, participants engage in hands-on activities with the horses, guided group discussions, and individual reflection.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, Healing of Our Veterans Equine Services (H.O.O.V.E.S.)'s program expenses were:
| Program services | $327,965 |
| Total Program Expenses | $327,965 |
Chief Executive
Amanda Held, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*
$45,228
Chair of the Board
Heather Beier
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Board Size
5
Paid Staff Size
5
*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Special events, Foundation grants, Corporate solicitation
Fundraising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $467,127, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Healing of Our Veterans Equine Services (H.O.O.V.E.S.)'s IRS Form 990 for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Source of Funds
| Contributions, grants, and gifts | $378,835 |
| Special events | $88,292 |
| Total Income | $467,127 |
Programs: 77% Fundraising: 2% Administrative: 20%
| Total Income | $467,127 |
| Total expenses: | $423,736 |
| Program expenses | $327,965 |
| Fundraising expenses | $9,881 |
| Administrative expenses | $85,890 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $43,391 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $172,335 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $215,726 |
| Total Liabilities | $589,451 |
| Total Assets | $805,203 |
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
RELATED CONTENT
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance