The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc
The Foundation for the Horse is a public charity based in Lexington, Kentucky, founded in 1994. It supports horse health and welfare through equine veterinary education and scholarships, research, disaster relief, and care for horses at risk.
Key facts about The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc
In short: The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), top state Kentucky. 54% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 61-1259683
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,103,258
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- Average grant
- $44,130
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (13 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $10,334,851
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (23% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Foundation states that grants are awarded through an application and review process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 deadlines of June 7 for Graduate Student, Fellow, and Resident Research Grants and September 1 for the…
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
$10.3M
+11.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+105.9% YoY
Grant Count
25
+78.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+15.3% YoY
Is The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 24 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $56K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $45K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 improve the health and welfare of horses. Its program areas include education for future equine veterinarians, equine medical research, disaster relief, and support for at-risk and working horses.
Its website describes education grants as supporting scholarships and high-quality labs, lectures, and workshops. Research grants support scientific projects, workshops, and early-career researchers. The Foundation also describes disaster grants as providing rapid assistance for emergency veterinary care, medicines and supplies, temporary housing, and feed or water, often through local responders.
Grantees’ own descriptions show a range of supported work. Equitarian Initiative says its mission is to improve the health and welfare of working horses, donkeys, mules, and their families around the world. Fleet of Angels describes providing emergency grants and services for equines in crisis, while Standardbred Retirement Foundation describes rescuing horses from the threat of slaughter and securing lifelong care. International Veterinary Outreach says it develops sustainable veterinary services and training in economically disadvantaged communities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not descriptions of the Foundation’s own programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 25 grants totaling $1,103,258. Grant amounts ranged from $6,660 to $160,000, with a median of $25,000.
Largest reported awards included $160,000 to Texas A&M University for scholarships; $153,000 to the American Association of Equine Practitioners for equine promotion; $146,000 to Equitarian Initiative for a working equine grant; $75,000 to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania for scholarships; and $74,776 to NC State University for research. Other reported research grants included $55,490 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation, $50,000 to Oregon State University, $44,932 to the Regents of the University of California, and $35,592 to Purdue University.
The Foundation’s filing says grants are awarded through an application process. Applications are reviewed against the organization’s tax-exempt mission and assessed for need; the filing states that research grants are supported by invoices and receipts and promotional grants by program narratives. Its website describes disaster-relief applications from equine veterinarians, state or regional response coordinators, and recognized equine welfare organizations able to document need and capacity. The Horses at Risk program is limited to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits that directly provide day-to-day care for horses at their own facilities; privately owned horses, for-profit entities, and nonprofits that do not directly manage horses’ daily care are ineligible.
The 2026 Horses at Risk, Equine Care & Vaccine Support grant cycle is closed. The Foundation’s website says an interest form is available for notification when the program opens again in 2027. The Past Presidents’ Research Fellow Scholarship and EQUUS Foundation Research Fellow Scholarship are described as providing $5,000 to eligible equine veterinary researchers; these awards support researchers, not their research projects. The Graduate Student, Fellow, and Resident Research Grants support eligible early-career researchers, with awards listed up to $20,000.
Review Cycle
The listed 2026 deadlines of June 7 for Graduate Student, Fellow, and Resident Research Grants and September 1 for the two research fellow scholarships have passed. The Horses at Risk 2026 cycle is closed.
How to Apply
The Foundation states that grants are awarded through an application and review process. Program-specific eligibility and materials apply; disaster-relief applicants are asked to document need and their capacity to deliver aid.
Ready to take the next step with The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Lexington, Kentucky. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest reported shares were Kentucky (23%), Colorado (18%), Texas (15%), Pennsylvania (7%), and North Carolina (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $317K (2021) to $1.1M (2023, 18 months). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $1.1M.
*2023: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Texas A&M University ($160K). Together the top 10 received $869K.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 83 (75%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University College Station, TX | Scholarships | $160,000 |
| American Association of Equine Practitioners Lexington, KY | Equine Promotion | $153,000 |
| Equitarian Initiative Steamboat Springs, CO | Working Equine Grant | $146,000 |
| Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Scholarships | $75,000 |
| NC State University Raleigh, NC | Research | $74,776 |
| Various Other Grants 5000 or Less Lexington, KY | Equine Care and Promotion | $64,470 |
| The University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc Athens, GA | Research | $55,490 |
| Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | Research | $50,000 |
| Regents of the University of California Los Angeles, CA | Research | $44,932 |
| Purdue University Chicago, IL | Research | $35,592 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,334,851 | $3,182,205 | $2,748,021 | $1,103,258 across 25 grants |
| 2024 | $9,307,931 | $2,914,554 | $1,905,548 | $535,809 across 14 grants |
| 2023 | $9,307,931 | $2,914,554 | $1,905,548 | $535,809 across 14 grants |
*2023: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,334,851 | $9,307,931 | $9,307,931 |
| Revenue | $3,182,205 | $2,914,554 | $4,904,438 |
| Expenses | $2,748,021 | $1,905,548 | $3,639,995 |
| Net Investment Income | $571,184 | $279,856 | $588,101 |
*2023: Covers 18 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tracy Turner as president and director; Sarah Ruess as president elect and director; Mitchell Rode as treasurer and director; Katherine Garrett as immediate past president and director; and Eric Mueller as vice president and director. It also lists Tegan Easton, Elisabeth Charles, Sara Langsam, Tyler Corbiell, and Phoebe Smith as directors.
The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc is led by David Foley, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 17 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Foley
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Turner
President & Director
President Elect → President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Kleine
Director of the Foundation
Director of Industry Relat → Director of Industry Relations, 2023
Director of Industry Relations → Director of the Foundation, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Rawls
Director of Finance & Operations
Director of Finance → Director of Finance & Operations, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Baker
Director of Marketing
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth Charles
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Mueller
Vice President & Director
Director → Vice President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Contino
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Garrett
Immediate Past President & Director
President → Immediate Past President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitchell Rode
Treasurer & Director
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Altwies
Director of Membership
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raul Bras
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sara Langsam
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Ruess
President Elect & Director
Vice President → President Elect & Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tegan Easton
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phoebe Smith
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Corbiell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Jackie Christakos (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Robert P. Franklin (2023–2024) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Amanda M. House Dvm Dacvim (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Amy L. Grice Vmd MBA (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Emma Adam Dvm Dacvim PhD (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Emma K. Read Dvm Mvsc Dacvs (2021–2022) — President
- Former: Erin Denney-Jones Dvm (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: James A. Zeliff Dvm MBA (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert P. Franklin Dvm Dacvim (2021–2022) — President-Elect
- Former: Sarah Reuss Vmd Dacvim (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Scott A. Hay Dvm (2021–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Jaclyn Marie Christakos Dvm (2022) — Director
- Former: Katherine Garrett Dvm Dacvs (2022) — Vice President
- Former: Po Eric Mueller Dvm Phd Dacvs (2022) — Director
- Former: David D. Frisbie Dvm PhD (2021) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Luke Bass Dvm Ms Dabvp (2021) — Director
- Former: Mitchell K. Rode Dvm (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 4033 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: (859) 705-0425
Website: https://foundationforthehorse.org
Frequently asked questions about The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc
How much does The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc give each year?
The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $536K across 14 grants.
What is The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $44,130, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc that year got $38K on average.
Where does The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc give grants?
The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's top state is Kentucky, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Colorado (18%) and Texas (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (4 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Fort Collins, CO (2 grants).
Does The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (10 grants), "Scholarships" (7 grants) and "Working Equine Grant" (4 grants).
Who are The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Texas A&M University ($160,000), American Association of Equine Practitioners ($153,000) and Equitarian Initiative ($146,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc?
The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc reported $10.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.2M.
What does The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to improve the health and welfare of horses. Its program areas include education for future equine veterinarians, equine medical research, disaster relief, and support for at-risk and working horses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc?
The Foundation states that grants are awarded through an application and review process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Foundation for the Horse FKA the Aaep Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1259683. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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