PLATINUM2024

Challenge Unlimited

Healing with Horsepower

aka Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm   |   Andover, MA   |  https://ironstonefarm.org/
GuideStar Charity Check

Challenge Unlimited

EIN: 22-2478997


Mission

To provide life-changing equine-assisted services that foster the human-horse connection to help individuals and families with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges experience healing and joy while realizing their full potential.

Ruling year info

1985

Executive Director

Kerri Whalen

Main address

450 Lowell Street

Andover, MA 01810 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

22-2478997

Subject area info

Equestrianism

Community service

Animal therapy

Developmental disability services

Family disability resources

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Population served info

People with disabilities

Veterans

Emergency responders

At-risk youth

Caregivers

Show more populations served

NTEE code info

Health Support Services (E60)

Equestrian, Riding (N69)

Youth Development Programs (O50)

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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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?

Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic riding uses horseback riding activities for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of people with disabilities. Clients are placed with licensed horseback riding instructors to work on goals that develop self-confidence, physical strength, and independent skills that carry over to their everyday lives. In addition to the individual client, we offer weekly group lessons for schools and adult daycare centers for people with disabilities. Group lessons can help riders develop relationships and form social bonds with their peers while encouraging teamwork and support among riders.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
People with diseases and illnesses
Veterans

Medically-based physical and occupational services that use the movement of the horse to encourage strengthened trunk control, improved balance, flexibility, and muscle tone. Along with other therapy tools and strategies, hippotherapy can help to achieve the client's therapy goals and promote functional outcomes in a fun, nonclinical setting. Clients may be referred by their physician or directly from their Early Intervention Center.

Population(s) Served
Infants and toddlers
Children
People with disabilities

Our Equine-Assisted Programs focus on discovering the powerful relationship between horses and humans. Our programs can help build a renewed sense of self, increase confidence, and overcome fears and insecurities. Ironstone Farm offers these retreat-based programs to a myriad of clientele including veterans and first responders with PTSD, families and individuals impacted by cancer, youth-at-risk, seniors with dementia, people in recovery, and more.

Population(s) Served
At-risk youth
People with disabilities
Substance abusers
Veterans
People with diseases and illnesses

Where we work

  • Essex County, MA

  • Hillsborough County, NH

  • Middlesex County, MA

  • Rockingham County, NH

  • Suffolk County, MA

Awards

Hall of Fame 2002

Massachusetts Special Olympics

Achievement Award 2010

Boy Scouts of America

Affiliations & memberships

Chamber of Commerce 2011

Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member 2010

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

Number of veterans with PTSD served

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Equine-Assisted Programs (EAP)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of clients served

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

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Across all programs

Hours of volunteer service

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

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of overall donors

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

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Increasing

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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?

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

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  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

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Financials

Challenge Unlimited
Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

Revenue vs. expenses:  breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info
NET GAIN/LOSS:    in 
Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Liquidity in 2023 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

1.04

Average of 0.32 over 10 years

Months of cash in 2023 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

11.6

Average of 4.3 over 10 years

Fringe rate in 2023 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

11%

Average of 11% over 10 years

Funding sources info

Source: IRS Form 990

Assets & liabilities info

Source: IRS Form 990

Financial data

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Challenge Unlimited

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Challenge Unlimited

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Challenge Unlimited

Financial trends analysis Glossary & formula definitions

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

This snapshot of Challenge Unlimited’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.

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Business model indicators

Profitability info 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation $672,549 $299,670 $390,380 $75,556 $410,543
As % of expenses 49.1% 25.5% 32.5% 4.9% 25.0%
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation $549,739 $175,942 $268,118 -$50,062 $289,520
As % of expenses 36.8% 13.6% 20.3% -3.0% 16.4%
Revenue composition info
Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) $1,826,190 $1,209,676 $1,394,583 $1,813,034 $2,021,508
Total revenue, % change over prior year 0.6% -33.8% 15.3% 30.0% 11.5%
Program services revenue 48.1% 33.8% 42.2% 41.8% 42.5%
Membership dues 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Investment income 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.4%
Government grants 0.0% 0.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
All other grants and contributions 52.0% 66.5% 57.8% 57.8% 46.3%
Other revenue -0.2% -1.2% 0.0% 0.3% 9.8%
Expense composition info
Total expenses before depreciation $1,369,329 $1,173,158 $1,201,555 $1,556,354 $1,643,661
Total expenses, % change over prior year 8.9% -14.3% 2.4% 29.5% 5.6%
Personnel 62.2% 63.6% 65.7% 59.4% 61.0%
Professional fees 3.1% 2.3% 2.9% 1.8% 6.0%
Occupancy 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Interest 4.5% 4.4% 3.7% 2.7% 3.3%
Pass-through 3.5% 0.9% 2.0% 5.1% 3.3%
All other expenses 26.7% 28.8% 25.7% 31.0% 26.4%
Full cost components (estimated) info 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Total expenses (after depreciation) $1,492,139 $1,296,886 $1,323,817 $1,681,972 $1,764,684
One month of savings $114,111 $97,763 $100,130 $129,696 $136,972
Debt principal payment $406,038 $199,233 $6,533 $0 $71,801
Fixed asset additions $0 $0 $334,209 $766,979 $0
Total full costs (estimated) $2,012,288 $1,593,882 $1,764,689 $2,578,647 $1,973,457

Capital structure indicators

Liquidity info 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Months of cash 3.6 3.1 3.4 3.7 11.6
Months of cash and investments 3.7 3.2 3.4 3.8 11.7
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets 2.3 3.8 4.2 0.2 9.5
Balance sheet composition info 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Cash $415,241 $305,146 $336,401 $483,363 $1,584,074
Investments $3,841 $5,049 $8,375 $6,253 $13,314
Receivables $157,084 $74,495 $66,339 $23,167 $34,825
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) $5,951,329 $5,929,561 $6,258,020 $6,995,713 $5,756,301
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) 22.1% 24.1% 24.7% 23.5% 25.2%
Liabilities (as a % of assets) 28.8% 28.6% 23.2% 26.9% 25.5%
Unrestricted net assets $3,482,941 $3,658,883 $3,927,001 $3,876,939 $4,166,459
Temporarily restricted net assets N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Permanently restricted net assets N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total restricted net assets $415,175 $160,952 $297,683 $465,833 $414,506
Total net assets $3,898,116 $3,819,835 $4,224,684 $4,342,772 $4,580,965

Key data checks

Key data checks info 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Material data errors No No No No No

Operations

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

Documents
Form 1023/1024 is not available for this organization

Executive Director

Kerri Whalen

Number of employees

Source: IRS Form 990

Challenge Unlimited

Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation
Other
Related
Show data for fiscal year
Compensation data
Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.

Challenge Unlimited

Board of directors
as of 07/01/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board of directors data
Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization
Board chair

Nancy Greeley

Ernest Coutermarsh

Paul Salafia

Advertising Management Services Inc.

Ralph Acaba

Vicky Bernard

Robin Gorski-Routhier

Robin A. Gorski CPA, MST

Brendan Hamm

Raytheon Technologies

Joseph Lussier

Enterprise Bank

Dipti Shah

Carewell Physical Therapy Clinic

Diane Tower

Andover Animal Hospital

Justin Bishop

Linda Byers

DiPietro Group Real Estate

Nancy Greeley

Rebecca Kahler-Reis

Sharon Mason

Chris Vaccaro

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
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? 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 7/18/2023

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
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

There are no contractors recorded for this organization.

Professional fundraisers

Fiscal year ending

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G

Solicitation activities
Gross receipts from fundraising
Retained by organization
Paid to fundraiser