Shining Hope Farms

“The directors/officer's review the form 990 tax return to make sure it correctly reflects the organization's activities and goals. Our accounting team, executive team, and finance committee worked with an external cpa firm and performed a detailed review before providing a copy to the full board prior to filing.”

“Every member of the board of directors must complete a mandatory conflict questionnaire at our annual meeting and disclose any possible conflict of interests. The information disclosed in the questionnaire is reviewed and actual or perceived conflict of interests are identified. Should someone have a conflict of interest we have the following procedures in place: 1. Duty to disclose in connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the board or executive committee. 2. Recusal of self any director may recuse himself or herself at any time from involvement in any decision or discussion in which the director believes he or she has or may have a conflict of interest, without going through the process for determining whether a conflict of interest exists. 3. Determining whether a conflict of interest exists after disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the board or executive committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or executive committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists. 4. Procedures for addressing the conflict of interest a) an interested person may make a presentation at the board or executive committee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest. B) the chairperson of the board or executive committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement. C) after exercising due diligence, the board or executive committee shall determine whether shining hope farms can obtain reasonable efforts for a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest. D) if a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under the circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the board or executive committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in shining hope farm's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination, it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.”

“The compensation for the executive director is discussed as needed annually. All board members are independent of the executive director. The board uses appropriate comparability data including salary information for comparable positions. The board reviews the executive director's achievements as well as the organization's current financial position and determines whether a change is recommended. The discussion is then documented in the board meeting minutes. The executive director is responsible for reviewing and approving compensation for executive team staff.”

“Our governing documents including the whistle blower policy, record retention policy, bylaws, articles of incorporation, financial statements, confidential policy, and conflict of interest policy, are available upon request.”

“Part viii,line 2e - negotiated insurance discounts: the negative amount represents the difference between the amount of money shining hope farms accepted as a voluntary in-network provider and what we could have received as an out-of-network provider. The decision to be in- network with the major insurance companies, including medicaid, rather than accepting a higher rate of reimbursement is a decision we make so that we can remain affordable to the families we serve, especially low-income families.”

“The organizations mission shining hope farms is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable children and adults to reach their full potential through the use of equine assisted activities and therapy services. Shining hope farms operates three locations in the western piedmont region of north carolina, offering equine assisted activities and therapies to benefit individuals of all ages with disabilities, veterans, and those in need of mental health counseling. We have three farms (charlotte, mt. Holly, and conover, nc) serving twelve surrounding counties as a strategic reach to impact the greater charlotte and hickory areas. We would love the opportunity for you to tour one of our farms and learn more about the impact we make. Please contact our development director patrice gibson at [email protected] to schedule a tour today. Shining hope farms has received national recognition due to the positive measurable outcomes of its patients as well as its transparency of accounting practices. Shining hope farms is also a guidestar exchange gold participant, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability among nonprofits that only 0.5% have achieved. We are very proud of this designation and would welcome the opportunity to share more information about our fiscal responsibility. In our most recent fiscal year, 88 cents per every dollar went to our programs which we aim to make affordable to the low-income community that is often unable to access equine assisted activities and therapies. In fact, of the families we serve, 32% are below 200% of the poverty line. 100% of the families we serve are able to access our programs with either no out-of-pocket expenses or at very affordable rates. If you have any questions about our form 990 or any financial information, please reach out to us at 704.827.3788 or email [email protected]. Please allow us the opportunity to share more about who we are, and the impact we make, over a cup of coffee, on us. Our development director patrice gibson would love to meet you and share more about our impact. She can be reached at [email protected]. Page 1, line 6b: total fundraising expenses for 2020 were 27,289. Page 1, line 19: profits for 2021 the increase in revenue from 2020 to 2021 is primarily due to increases in contributions and grants (an increase of 260,655 from 2020) from a great year as well as paycheck protection program (ppp) loans totaling 107,200 which were received in 2020 and 2021, and were then forgiven in 2021. Half of the ppp loans were for expenses in 2020. In 2021, after receiving the forgiveness letter, the amount payable for both rounds of funding was released and recorded as income.”

“Description of first exempt purpose: our therapy services program is conducted by licensed healthcare professionals and includes equine assisted psychotherapy, occupational therapy (ot), physical therapy (pt) and speech-language pathology (slp) that incorporate hippotherapy as one of the treatment tools/strategies in the overall therapy plan. The term hippotherapy refers to how ot, pt and slp professionals use evidence-based practices and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement to engage in sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes. Onsite clinics are also used for off-mounted activities to help achieve goals. In 2021, our therapy services program served 146 patients over the course of thousands of visits among our three locations. Historically, 85% of patients who received ot, pt or slp treatment have made functional gains helping to improve their quality of life. Our emphasis is placed on serving low income families in the community, and the majority of the clients in 2021 were able to access our program without any out-of-pocket costs. In 2021 this program received a grant from the carrie e. And lena v. Glenn foundation and the speedway children's charitites. Description of second exempt purpose accomplishment our therapeutic riding program provides goal-oriented, recreational group or private lessons and is conducted by a professional association of therapeutic horsemanship international certified riding instructor. Clients typically have a physical or cognitive disability. Clients participate in games and activities while learning riding and horsemanship skills. Improvements are made in the areas of emotional stability, social interaction, cognition and physical abilities. A horse leader and side- walkers assist the riders, which provide an enjoyable social environment. In 2021, our therapeutic riding program served 149 participants, most on a weekly basis, over the coure of 2,777 lessons. In order to serve the low-income community, services are provided at an affordable rate and scholarships are offered when necessary. Description of third exempt purpose accomplishment saddles and salutes is a program at shining hope farms that serves veterans as a part of their community support system for veteran wellness. Our goal is to help the veteran thrive in the process of re-integrating from a military community to a civilian community through equine assisted activities and therapies (eaat). Veterans are given the opportunity to decide which of our eaat service offerings they feel would be the best fit for them on their wellness journey. Primarily veterans choose from therapeutic riding and mental health counseling that utilizes equine assisted psychotherapy. In 2021, this program served 15 veterans over the course of 272 hours. All veterans were able to access our program free of charge which is made possible by a partnership with the wounded warriors foundation, grant opportunities and extensive fundraising efforts including our annual 5k/10k salute trail run to provide scholarships. In 2021, this program received a grant from the leeps foundation. Our program finds success in a number of factors including the following: 1. Research shows the positive effects of eaat services on veterans physical, mental, and emotional wellness. 2. Were providing veterans with a fun and motivating approach to wellness. 3, we are giving veterans an option as to which type of service is best for them (recreational but goal-oriented and therapeutic in nature, or actual mental health counseling that is still engaging and motivating with its equine component). 4. We offer the opportunity for comradery with other veterans, an important component that can be healing in and of itself. 5. We also offer additional opportunities for engagement for veterans where they can stick around after a session (or come another time) to volunteer in the barn or in our other programs for individuals with dis”

“Office supplies 16,755 397 8 therapy billing 14,859 0 0 farrier 14,169 0 0 merchant fees 0 12,465 0 equine medical supplies 9,828 0 0 software 8,944 0 0 auto repairs & maint 8,750 0 0 sand, gravel, shavings 8,633 0 0 phone, fax, internet 8,184 93 93 farm services 8,086 0 0 hay haulers & workers 7,131 0 0 gas 7,019 0 0 equipment repairs & maint 6,015 0 0 noncash prizes 0 0 4,092 therapy supplies 4,083 0 0 maintenance manager 4,043 0 0 facility fee 3,890 0 0 dues & subscriptions 2,486 40 673 supplies (decorations) 0 0 3,115 payroll fees 0 2,452 0 uniforms 2,215 91 91 technology 1,501 752 30 hpot supervisor 2,101 0 0 food & beverage 0 0 1,527 appreciation exp, awards, 640 0 824 postage & shipping 1,266 0 0 equipment rental 1,163 48 48 small tools 965 0 0 nonprofit consulting 0 477 477 license & registration 945 0 0 professional services 0 0 703 professional fundraising 0 544 0 entertainment (fundraisin 0 0 500 bank/service charges 0 200 0 tolls 31 0 0 appreciation exp. Awards, 29 0 0 misc 0 0 0 qbooks payroll service fe 0 -288 0 total 143,731 17,271 12,181”

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