irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $299KTRAINING AND LESSONS - HORSE RIDING LESSONS THAT GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP LIFE LONG SKILLS, AND CONNECT WITH NATURE. THESE LESSONS DEVELOP DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS IMPROVING PHYSICAL FITNESS AND COORDINATION.
- #2 $168KOTHER PROGRAMS - INCLUDE SUMMER CAMPS AND HORSE SHOWS. SUMMER CAMPS RANGE FROM AGES 4-12. THESE CAMPS OFFER A BLEND OF RIDING, RESPONSIBILITY, AND OUTDOOR EXPLORATION, AS WELL AS HANDS ON ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW THE CAMPERS TO CONNECT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. VARIOUS HORSE SHOWS ARE HOSTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO INCLUDE RIDERS AT ALL SKILL LEVELS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Equine Assisted Programs
Therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities for participants from The Anderson Center for Autism and Ramapo for Children.
Horse Shows
Seasonal events hosting riders at all skill levels, including local shows and participation in seasonal shows in Florida.
Riding Lessons
One-on-one and group instruction for riders of all levels, focusing on horsemanship, confidence-building, and connection with nature. Offered year-round with indoor and outdoor arenas.
Southlands Pony Camp
Summer camp program for children ages 7–14 that combines horse care, riding instruction, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration in a supportive environment.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 1 activity
- Conserve land through permanent easement and stewardshipHolds nearly 90% of its 200-acre property under a permanent conservation easement with Scenic Hudson, established in 1987, to ensure the land remains undeveloped and ecologically protected.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Maintain and provide public access to a nature preserveManages and preserves over 200 acres of land in Rhinebeck, NY, featuring trails, forests, meadows, and aquatic ecosystems, open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for recreation and exploration.
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Equine Education and Riding Instruction 1 activity
- Operate riding school and equestrian instruction programs for the general publicProvides riding lessons, horsemanship training, and specialized instruction for young riders and ponies, including preparation for seasonal equestrian shows in Florida, through the Southlands Riding School.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Provide environmental education and volunteer opportunitiesOffers educational programs in land stewardship and organizes volunteer projects such as trail maintenance, native species planting, and land preservation for future generations.
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Equine Rescue and Retirement Care 1 activity
- Provide equine boarding and care servicesOffers full-care equine boarding with daily turnout, grooming, stall cleaning, wellness checks, veterinary and farrier coordination, and customized rehabilitation programs for injured horses on a 200-acre property in Rhinebeck, NY.
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Therapeutic Equine-Assisted Programs 1 activity
- Provide equine-assisted programs and riding lessons for individuals with developmental and behavioral health needsOffers equine-assisted therapy programs and riding lessons for children, adolescents, and adults with developmental differences, behavioral health challenges, and needs related to emotional resilience and life skills, in partnership with organizations such as The Anderson Center for Autism, Ramapo for Children, and Samaritan Daytop Village Rehabilitation Center.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Run summer and seasonal camps for children focused on horses and natureOperates summer camps including Pony Camp for ages 7–14, Nature Camp for ages 4–7, and Jumpstart camp for children entering grades 1–3, combining horsemanship, outdoor exploration, nature observation, crafts, and academic reinforcement.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Support horsemanship education through scholarship fundingEstablishes and maintains the Nicole Marie Wiley Scholarship Fund to support working students in horsemanship education and participation in local shows and clinics.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Facilitate use of property for film and photographyMakes its scenic 200-acre property available as a location for television, film, and editorial photography and filming.
- Offer horse transport servicesProvides safe and reliable transportation for horses to shows, veterinary appointments, and relocation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$927K
Contributions & grants$130K14%
Program service revenue$626K68%
Investment income$148K16%
Other revenue$23K
expenses
Total expenses$1.12M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$442K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.80M
Cash$253K
Investments$2.88M
Liabilities$58K
Net assets$4.74M
Liquid reserves33.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -1.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW MONEYPENNY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $53K |
board members · 8
- CATHLEEN TOBIN — SECRETARY
- DEBBIE BEATRICE — DIRECTOR
- JACOB LEACH — PRESIDENT
- KATHLEEN KOLLAR — DIRECTOR
- KATHY ZITZ — DIRECTOR
- LIZ GOLDEN HILTON — VICE PRESIDENT
- MICHAEL LANCTO — DIRECTOR
- SUZANNE BATTENFELD — TREASURER
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- American Museum of Natural History Partner — Emily West, a volunteer at Southlands, previously worked with a school in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History.
- Anderson Center for Autism Partner — Partner organization whose participants engage in Southlands' equine therapy programs.
- Anderson Center for Autism Partner — Partner served through the unmounted equine therapy program.
- Eastern New York Dressage & Combined Training Association (ENYDCTA) Partner — Allison King assists in writing grant requests for this organization.
- Hudson Valley Hunter Jumper Association Network — Lucy Donohue serves on the board and Allison King serves as Recording Secretary.
- Mill Road Primary School Partner — Nature Camp Director Katy is a teacher at Mill Road Primary School in Red Hook, bringing classroom experience to camp programming.
- Quiet Run Limited Partner — Nature Camp Director Katy gained experience assisting with summer camps at Quiet Run Limited in Saratoga Springs.
- Ramapo for Children Partner — Partner organization whose participants engage in Southlands' equine therapy programs.
- Ramapo for Children Partner — Provides riding lessons to participants from this organization.
- Rhinebeck Historical Society Partner — Collaborated on a presentation about the history and legacy of the Southlands Foundation.
- Samaritan Daytop Village Partner — Hosted the organization's adult rehabilitation center on its Fox Hollow Farm property.
- Samaritan Daytop Village Partner — Partner organization whose participants engage in Southlands' equine therapy programs.
- Samaritan Daytop Village Rehabilitation Center Partner — Longtime partner in a weekly equine-assisted program.
- Scenic Hudson Partner — Holds a conservation easement on nearly 90% of Southlands' land to protect natural habitats.
- Scenic Hudson Partner — Holds a conservation easement to protect the Southlands property in perpetuity.
- Scenic Hudson Partner — Partnered to secure a permanent conservation easement on Southlands property.
- The Anderson Center for Autism Partner — Collaborates on equine-assisted programs and riding lessons for participants.
- The Southlands Foundation Network — Member organization operating under its own name
- Winnakee Land Trust Partner — Conservation partner collaborating with The Southlands Foundation
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Learningmethodology: equine_assisted_therapyBy integrating structured horse interactions—both mounted and ground-based—with developmental goals, we improve emotional regulation, confidence, and behavioral awareness in individuals with autism and other developmental needs, because horses provide immediate, non-judgmental feedback to human emotions and actions.
- Integrated Conservation and Land Stewardshipmethodology: permacultureBy managing land using permaculture principles and integrating conservation education into outdoor programming, we promote sustainable land use and environmental responsibility, because direct experience with regenerative practices deepens ecological understanding and long-term behavioral change.
- Nature-Based Experiential Educationmethodology: play_based_nature_educationBy immersing children and individuals in screen-free, play-based interactions with horses and nature, we build curiosity, academic engagement, and environmental stewardship, because direct, hands-on experience fosters deeper cognitive and emotional connections than classroom instruction alone.