Fire Horse Refuge Inc
Fire Horse Refuge Inc is a private foundation based in Denison, Texas. It supports efforts to rescue unhandled mustangs and other equines from the slaughter pipeline and place them in safe homes or sanctuaries.
Fire Horse Refuge Inc at a glance
In short: Fire Horse Refuge Inc gave $45K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $44,851
- +17.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +29.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,039
- -9.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $650
- Total assets
- $24,564
- -39.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (39% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Fire Horse Refuge Inc
- How to Apply
-
Contact the foundation; no specific format or materials are required.
- Review Cycle
- None specified.
- Deadline
- None specified.
- Contact
Application contact: Fire Horse Refuge Inc
Mailing address: 1826 Flowers Dr, Denison, TX 75020
Phone: (214) 668-4922
Email: info@firehorserefuge.org
Website: https://firehorserefuge.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fire Horse Refuge Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 39 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares were Texas (52%), Alabama (15%), North Carolina (12%), Colorado (10%), and California (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2024) to $45K (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $45K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 22 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $44,851 |
Ready to take the next step with Fire Horse Refuge Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,564 | $142,669 | $150,711 | $44,851 | 22 | $134,629 |
| 2024 | $40,701 | $197,505 | $203,825 | $38,155 | 17 | $193,774 |
| 2023 | $229 | $136,352 | $133,637 | — | — | $133,637 |
| 2022 | — | $25,014 | $29,633 | — | — | $29,633 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its main purpose is to rescue unhandled mustangs from the slaughter pipeline and find them safe, stable homes. It says it purchases horses at auctions, from kill buyers, and from feedlots, and facilitates placement in sanctuaries and private homes. Its website describes the Saving Epona fund as supporting high-risk BLM mustangs, burros, and other equines, including through buying, boarding, transport, veterinary and farrier care, rehabilitation, and rehoming.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied horse-welfare and related missions. Habitat for Horses Inc describes its mission as promoting horse security through rehabilitation, veterinary care, and education. Horse Plus Humane Society describes itself as an open-admissions horse-welfare organization that rescues and shelters horses. Colorado Gives Foundation describes its mission as improving lives in Colorado by connecting people, ideas, and nonprofits.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $38,155. Grants ranged from $52 to $18,077, with a median grant of $800. The largest grant was $18,077 to an individual recipient for ongoing operations. Other substantial awards included $5,623 to an individual recipient and $4,447 to an individual recipient for fundraisers to care for and save equines from the slaughter pipeline; $2,821 to Sweet Grass Advocacy for North America for similar fundraising; and $1,173 to an individual recipient for that purpose. Additional grants included $1,000 to Friends of Lackota for ongoing operations and $800 to Habitat for Horses for a monthly sponsorship supporting a BLM mustang. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 22 grants totaling $44,851.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists no specific application format and no deadline. The stated restriction is that awards support its purpose of rescuing unhandled mustangs from the slaughter pipeline and facilitating their placement in sanctuaries and private homes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Shelley Cates as President; Alan Martin and Sean Pollaro as Directors; Lindsay Cates as Treasurer; and Courtney Rice as Secretary.
Fire Horse Refuge Inc is led by Shelley Cates, President on every filing since 2022; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shelley Cates
President
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alan Martin
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Pollaro
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Rice
Secretary
On filings since 2022
23 hrs/week
$7K (2022) → $2K (2025)
Lindsay Cates
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
11 hrs/week
$3K (2022) → $5K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Linda Bornheim (2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 $5K, to Lindsay Cates (Treasurer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Fire Horse Refuge Inc
How much does Fire Horse Refuge Inc give each year?
Fire Horse Refuge Inc gave $45K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $38K across 17 grants.
What is Fire Horse Refuge Inc's typical grant size?
Fire Horse Refuge Inc's median grant in 2025 was $650, and its average grant was $2,039, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Fire Horse Refuge Inc give grants?
Fire Horse Refuge Inc's top state is Texas, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (21%) and Colorado (20%).
Does Fire Horse Refuge Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Fire Horse Refuge Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Ongoing Operations" (3 grants).
How large is Fire Horse Refuge Inc?
Fire Horse Refuge Inc reported $25K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $143K.
What does Fire Horse Refuge Inc fund?
The organization states that its main purpose is to rescue unhandled mustangs from the slaughter pipeline and find them safe, stable homes. It says it purchases horses at auctions, from kill buyers, and from feedlots, and facilitates placement in sanctuaries and private homes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fire Horse Refuge Inc?
Contact the foundation; no specific format or materials are required. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fire Horse Refuge Inc's EIN?
Fire Horse Refuge Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-0483479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 22, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work Fire Horse Refuge Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fire Horse Refuge Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Denver Foundation
Denver, CO
The Denver Foundation supports nonprofits working in economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being, with an emphasis on racial equity and historically underserved communities in the seven-county Metro Denver region. Its Community Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000; the 2024 median across reported grants was $26,500. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,184
Total Given
$131.7M
Leslie L Alexander Foundation Inc
Delray Beach, FL
The Leslie L Alexander Foundation supports animal rescue, education, children’s services, and other charitable work. In 2024, grants ranged from $600 to $1 million, with a median of $35,000; giving was concentrated in Florida and Texas, with awards also made elsewhere. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$291.4M
Grants
622
Total Given
$28.4M
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing
Appleton, WI
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing distributes donor-directed and program donations to a broad range of causes and organizations in local, national, and global communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,520 and ranged from $5,006 to $5 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
3,145
Total Given
$99.2M
The Morgridge Family Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The Morgridge Family Foundation supports organizations addressing major societal challenges, with a primary focus on education and additional interests in conservation, health, wellness, and public benefit. Its 2024 grants ranged from $52 to $2.5 million, with a median of $6,400; about 90% of its investments are in the United States, with hubs in Colorado, Florida, and Montana. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$243.9M
Grants
158
Total Given
$13.0M
Havercroft Family Foundation
Englewood, CO
The Havercroft Family Foundation funds education, homelessness and human services, food access, health, youth programs, trafficking prevention, and wildlife conservation, with most 2025 grant dollars going to Colorado organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $2,368. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
16
Total Given
$68K
Katz Family Foundation Inc
Westport, CT
The Katz Family Foundation supports arts and culture, youth services, animal welfare, conservation, reproductive rights, and other charitable work, with 2024 grants ranging from $100 to $41,000 and a median of $1,000. Its giving was concentrated in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. It does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only preselected organizations.
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
32
Total Given
$102K
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Fire Horse Refuge Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Fire Horse Refuge Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?