American Quarter Horse Foundation
The American Quarter Horse Foundation is a public charity based in Amarillo, Texas. Formed in 1975, it connects horses and people through charitable giving to preserve the American Quarter Horse’s legacy and further the well-being of the horse and its community.
Key facts about American Quarter Horse Foundation
In short: American Quarter Horse Foundation gave $475K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), top state Texas. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 51-0187823
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $474,657
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- Average grant
- $27,921
- Median grant
- $18,733
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (5 of 17, 2025)
- Total assets
- $78,259,679
- Primary geography
- Texas (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Foundation’s website lists an “Apply For Funding” option for equine research, but the application process, materials, and restrictions are not specified in the available information. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$78.3M
+8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$475K
+200.5% YoY
Grant Count
17
+142.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+23.7% YoY
Is American Quarter Horse Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 17 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $21K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support programs that preserve the horse’s legacy and further the well-being of the American Quarter Horse and the Quarter Horse family. Its stated program areas include grants and education for basic and applied research, scholarships for AQHA members, equine-assisted services grants, and the Hall of Fame and Museum. The Foundation’s website says it has awarded more than $13 million to colleges and universities for equine management and health research since 1960.
The Foundation’s 2024 filing says 150 scholarships were paid in the year ending September 30, 2025. Its website says scholarship recipients are selected based on the criteria for each scholarship, including academic achievement, financial need, Quarter Horse involvement, leadership, and communication skills; recommendations are approved by the Board of Trustees.
In 2025, grants included support for universities and research organizations, as well as equine-assisted programs. For example, Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs describes its mission as providing equine-assisted activities to promote the health of individuals with special needs. Stable Strides Farm describes itself as an equine therapy program serving children and adults with special needs. The American Quarter Horse Association, a 2025 recipient, describes its mission as preserving the breed’s pedigree and integrity, protecting its welfare, promoting its versatility, and encouraging lifelong enjoyment of the breed.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 17 grants totaling $474,657. Grants ranged from $6,253 to $78,871, with a median of $18,733.
How to Apply
, materials, and restrictions are not specified in the available information.
Ready to take the next step with American Quarter Horse Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. Texas accounted for 41%, Georgia 17%, Kentucky 9%, California 7%, and Tennessee 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $158K (2024) to $475K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $475K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Georgia Research Foundation ($79K). Together the top 10 received $407K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 56 (84%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia Research Foundation Athens, GA | Equine Research | $78,871 |
| Texas A&M Agrilife Research College Station, TX | Equine Research | $61,320 |
| American Quarter Horse Association Amarillo, TX | Program Reimbursement | $55,441 |
| Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX | Equine Research | $46,667 |
| University of Kentucky Lexington, KY | Equine Research | $43,915 |
| University of California Davis Los Angeles, CA | Equine Research | $33,486 |
| University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN | Equine Research | $26,667 |
| North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC | Equine Research | $23,306 |
| Montana State University Bozeman, MT | Equine Research | $18,733 |
| Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX | Equine Research | $18,655 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $78,259,679 | $7,735,820 | $2,847,931 | $474,657 (17 grants) |
| 2024 | $71,872,707 | $11,932,105 | $2,342,348 | $157,942 (7 grants) |
| 2023 | $56,783,133 | $6,808,098 | $2,296,874 | $282,158 (12 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $78,259,679 | $71,872,707 | $56,783,133 |
| Revenue | $7,735,820 | $11,932,105 | $6,808,098 |
| Expenses | $2,847,931 | $2,342,348 | $2,296,874 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,500,276 | $4,520,927 | $1,076,371 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 22, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 20, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s 2025 filing lists Jeff Tebow as president from March 2025, after serving as first vice president until that month. Jim Brinkman became first vice president in March 2025, after serving as second vice president until then; Lori Bucholz became second vice president in March 2025. James Hunt served as president until March 2025.
The filing also lists Catherine Nicholas, Larry Bell, Kathy Headley, and Daniel Henson as appointed trustees; Ross Roark as trustee; and Randy Ratliff as trustee from March 2025.
American Quarter Horse Foundation is led by James Hunt, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Hunt
President
Board of Trustees Member → 2nd Vice President, 2022
2nd Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Nicholas
Appointed Trustee
Appointed Board of Trustee → Appointed Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Bell
Appointed Trustee
Appointed Board of Trustee → Appointed Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Headley
Appointed Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Henson
Appointed Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ross Roark
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy Ratliff
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Sitz
COO & Secretary
Chief Foundation Officer → COO & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
55 hrs/week
$134K (2022) → $187K (2025)
Jim Brinkman
2nd Vice President
Board of Trustees Member → 2nd Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karl Stressman
Executive Vice President
Chief Executive Officer → Executive Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Barbe
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Bucholz
2nd Vice President
Board Member → 2nd Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Tebow President
1st Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Kenneth Banks (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Robin Merrill (2019–2024) — Appointed Trustee
- Former: James HuntPresFrom (2024) — 1st Vice President
- Former: Jeff Tebow1st VPFrom (2024) — 2nd Vice President
- Former: Jim Brinkman2nd VPFrom (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Aaron Bovos (2019–2023) — Former CFO & Treasurer
- Former: Scott Myers (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Jeff Tebow (2021–2023) — 2nd Vice President
- Former: James Hunt1st VPfrom (2023) — 2nd Vice President
- Former: Kenneth BanksPresfrom (2023) — 1st Vice President
- Former: Craig Huffines (2019–2022) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Norm Luba (2019–2022) — President
- Former: Robert Pierce (2019–2022) — General Counsel
- Former: Anna Morrison (2019–2021) — Chief Foundation Officer & CIO
- Former: Floyd E. Butch Wise (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Stan Weaver (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Caroline Rogers (2020) — Director of Development
- Former: James Heird (2019) — President
- Former: Trenton Taylor (2019) — Former Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $187K, to Christine Sitz (COO & Secretary).
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 32111, Amarillo, TX 79120
Phone: (806) 376-5181
Website: https://aqha.com
Frequently asked questions about American Quarter Horse Foundation
How much does American Quarter Horse Foundation give each year?
American Quarter Horse Foundation gave $475K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $158K across 7 grants.
What is American Quarter Horse Foundation's typical grant size?
American Quarter Horse Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $18,733, and its average grant was $27,921, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from American Quarter Horse Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does American Quarter Horse Foundation give grants?
American Quarter Horse Foundation's top state is Texas, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Georgia (17%) and Kentucky (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does American Quarter Horse Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on American Quarter Horse Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Equine Research" (13 grants) and "Equine Assisted Services" (3 grants).
Who are American Quarter Horse Foundation's largest grantees?
American Quarter Horse Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Georgia Research Foundation ($78,871), Texas A&M Agrilife Research ($61,320) and American Quarter Horse Association ($55,441), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is American Quarter Horse Foundation?
American Quarter Horse Foundation reported $78.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.7M.
What does American Quarter Horse Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support programs that preserve the horse’s legacy and further the well-being of the American Quarter Horse and the Quarter Horse family. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Quarter Horse Foundation?
The Foundation’s website lists an “Apply For Funding” option for equine research, but the application process, materials, and restrictions are not specified in the available information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Quarter Horse Foundation's EIN?
American Quarter Horse Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0187823. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching American Quarter Horse Foundation by hand.
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