PLATINUM2023

Freedom Reigns Ranch

Igniting Hope with the Help of a Horse

Thompsons Stn, TN   |  www.freedomreignsranch.com

Mission

Igniting hope with the help of a horse by providing free-of-charge mentor sessions to children and young adults who have been through trauma and other life-challenges.

Ruling year info

2017

Founder and Executive Director

Carissa Ramsdell

Main address

1725 Barker Rd

Thompsons Stn, TN 37179 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

81-4634781

NTEE code info

Agricultural, Youth Development (O52)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2021.
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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We are searching for 25-40 acres of land on which to build our "forever home." With the current limitations of a leased property behind us (8 acres, 3 operating days, limited number of horses) a permanent ranch home will exponentially increase the ministry’s impact on young lives. Currently, over 100 applications for sessions representing children and young persons in crisis are on the waiting list. With more than a year's wait, these applicants are blocked from accessing the ministry when they need it the most.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Individual Sessions

Intentional and undivided one-on-one time for a participant with a leader and a horse. Providing a safe space for participants to learn to rebuild trust, gain confidence, and learn their inherent value through ranch activities such as riding, groundwork with horses, and barn chores.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Adults

Junior Ranchers is a small group mentorship for youth ages 9-24. 
Participants are put in groups of no more than 8 based on age, gender, and life-circumstance. Together they learn leadership, teamwork, creative problem solving, and practice relational skills through horsemanship, interacting with peers, and engaging in practical application Bible study.

Population(s) Served
Young adults
Children and youth

Family Sessions are an opportunity for families dealing with inter-relational challenges to step outside of their routine in the Ranch setting. Initiated by a request from a parent/foster parent/guardian, and facilitated by a Ranch mentor, the session can focus on topics including teamwork, respect, communicating emotions, problem-solving, and boundaries... or the time can simply be used as a "bright spot" in the midst of family turmoil.

After time with the horses, discussion around a campfire (complete with s’mores!) is used to bring closure to the session and encourage continued healthy interaction amongst family members.

Population(s) Served
Family relationships

Group Sessions are a “unique circumstance opportunity” in which groups who relate to, work with, and interact with each other outside of Freedom Reigns are brought to the Ranch for an extended 2-hour session that includes working with horses as well as a discussion/debrief time. The time can be used as a devotional, team-building activity, or be a chance for groups to have a fun afternoon together.

Groups come from a variety of circumstances including foster family cohorts, grief and trauma groups in counseling, marriage groups, support groups in counseling for a variety of circumstances (bullying, eating disorders, addiction recovery, etc.), and co-workers or teammates experiencing communication challenges.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Children and youth
Women and girls
Children and youth
Women and girls
Children and youth
Adults

Where we work

Awards

Top-Rated Nonprofit 2021

Great Nonprofits

Best of Parenting Winner 2021

Williamson Parent

Top-Rated Nonprofit 2022

Great Nonprofits

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Average number of service recipients per month

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, Foster and adoptive children, Children and youth, At-risk youth, Victims and oppressed people

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Continuously growing in capacity to provide additional one-on-one and group sessions from caring adults who have been equipped in providing trauma-informed, Christ-centered mentorship.

Number of direct care staff who received training in trauma informed care

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

All of our mentors receive training in providing trauma-informed mentorship, building trust, and providing motivational and caring support from a LCSW with 20+ years of clinical experience.

Hours of mentoring

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth, Young adults, Foster and adoptive children, At-risk youth, Victims and oppressed people

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Hours of mentorship that have been provided free-of-charge to children and young adults in Middle Tennessee.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

A permanent ranch will allow for the realization of these growth milestones:
Immediately Reduce wait list and welcome several wait-listed participants with additional operating days. Increase the number of session horses.
Year 2027 (Five Year Goal) 120+ bi-monthly participants in one-on-one and group sessions, 100+ participants in family and large group sessions, twenty horses, individual mentors/volunteers, and 7,850 mentorship hours
Year 2032 (Ten Year Goal) 175+ bi-monthly participants in one-on-one and small group sessions, 150+ participants in family and large group sessions, twenty-eight to thirty horses, individual mentors/volunteers, and 10,000+ mentorship hours

The strategy is to secure $500k that can be used as a match incentive so at closing 1m will be paid, and the remaining $650,000 be financed in a mortgage with a monthly payment similar to our current lease. This is what we feel is financially responsible.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback

Financials

Freedom Reigns Ranch
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Freedom Reigns Ranch

Board of directors
as of 06/12/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Penelope Butler


Board co-chair

Everett Simmons

Amy Springer

Advents Occupational Health

Elizabeth St Clair

Carissa Ramsdell

Freedom Reigns Ranch

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 12/27/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Decline to state

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data