Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation

What Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation does

Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society (HARPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 by animal advocate Donna Ewing, headquartered at PO Box 94 in Barrington, Illinois. The organization is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of horses and other hooved animals, operating state-certified investigations into abuse and neglect in coordination with law enforcement and the Illinois Department of Agriculture under authority derived from the 1973 Humane Care for Animals Act. Beyond direct rescue, HARPS runs an Equine Assisted Learning Program serving underserved youth, children with autism spectrum disorders, and other special-needs individuals, alongside educational clinics, seminars, and an online Basics of Horse Care resource library.

HARPS does not operate a technology platform — its digital surface consists of a website (harpsonline.org), PayPal payment processing for donations, a ReCAPTCHA-protected complaint submission form, and a Facebook community page. The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of one-time donations, tiered annual memberships (Junior/Senior $15, Adult $35, Family $50, Contributing $100, Sustaining $500, Life $1,000) bundled with the HARPSTRINGS magazine, undisclosed adoption fees, and a passive Chewy.com affiliate retail-referral stream. Distribution is centered on direct facility adoption, an Assisted Adoption Program for non-emergency owner rehoming, educational clinic events, and online education, all anchored to a single Illinois geographic market.

The competitive positioning rests on regulatory authority (state-certified humane investigators), an experienced multi-decade rescue team, and a long-tenured volunteer/member ecosystem. Key operational milestones include the 2008 rescue of 40 Belgian draft horses from a Wadsworth, IL trailer accident and the 2014 rescue of 75+ abandoned Quarter Horses in Hampshire, IL. Operational leadership is held by Ronda Ewing as President, continuing the mission established by her mother and founder Donna Ewing.

Name

Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation

Legal name

Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society

Website

https://harpsonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HARPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Barrington, Illinois, founded in 2001, that rescues, rehabilitates, and adopts out abused and neglected horses and hooved animals, while running educational clinics, an Equine Assisted Learning therapeutic program, and state-certified abuse investigations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Equine rescue services
• Animal rehabilitation
• Horse adoption
• Animal welfare education
• Nonprofit animal rescue

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Fees: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, HARPS relies on tax-deductible donations at various levels. Members receive a one-year membership and free copy of the HARPSTRINGS magazine. Donation tiers include Junior/Senior ($15), Adult ($35), Family ($50), Contributing ($100), Sustaining ($500), and Life ($1,000). Donations are processed through PayPal.
2. Adoption Fees: HARPS facilitates adoption of rehabilitated horses and hooved animals. The organization charges adoption fees for animals placed in forever homes, though specific amounts are not publicly listed.
3. Retail Partnerships: HARPS receives support through Chewy.com shopping partnerships where supporters can shop for pet supplies, with a portion benefiting the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HARPS rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes abused, neglected, and abandoned horses and other hooved animals through direct facility operations, state-certified humane investigations, and an adoption network. It complements these rescue services with public education (clinics, seminars, online resources) and an Equine Assisted Learning therapeutic program for children and special-needs youth. Revenue is generated via memberships, donations, adoption fees, and retail partnership proceeds.

Product overview

HARPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of horses and hooved animals. The organization operates a comprehensive suite of programs including animal rescue and impoundment investigations, rehabilitation and adoption services (encompassing HARPS adoptables, direct adoption, and assisted adoption programs), educational clinics and seminars, an Equine Assisted Learning Program for therapeutic purposes, and emergency first responder assistance. All services support the mission of promoting humane treatment through rescue, rehabilitation, education, and legislation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Equine Assisted Learning Program: A therapeutic program that provides inspirational experiences for children during their own rehabilitation, working with educators and counselors to serve underserved youth, children with autism spectrum disorders, and other special needs individuals.

Products and services

• Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Core service involving rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of horses and other hooved animals from abuse, neglect, starvation, and abandonment situations, including 24-hour veterinary care during recovery.
• Investigation and Impoundment Service State-certified humane investigators screen calls about animal neglect and abuse, working with animal control, law enforcement, and the Illinois Department of Agriculture to inspect and impound abused animals.
• Equine Assisted Learning Program Therapeutic program working with educators and counselors to provide inspirational experiences for underserved youth, children with autism spectrum disorders, and other special-needs individuals interacting with rescued horses.
• Education Clinics and Seminars In-person educational clinics, seminars, one-on-one sessions, and telephonic consultations covering riding demonstrations, saddle fitting, therapeutic shoeing, and general horsemanship for the public.
• Horse Adoption Program Adoption services including HARPS adoptables, direct adoption, and adoption of the heart for rehabilitated horses and donkeys ready for forever homes.
• Direct Owner Adoption / Assisted Adoption Program Network helping owners who need to rehome their horses in non-emergency circumstances such as job loss or owner death, matching horses with appropriate adoptive homes.
• Emergency First Responder Assistance Assists local emergency first responders in dealing with situations involving loose horses or other farm animals, leveraging HARPS' specialized equine expertise.
• Membership Program 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership program with tiered annual memberships (Junior/Senior $15, Adult $35, Family $50, Contributing $100, Sustaining $500, Life $1,000), each including a one-year membership and free HARPSTRINGS magazine, processed via PayPal.
• Animal Abuse Reporting Service Complaint submission system allowing citizens to report animal abuse or neglect to HARPS licensed investigators via website form or email, with the option to remain anonymous.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption missions completed since 2001
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Chewy.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHARPS partners with Chewy.com allowing supporters to shop through a dedicated link, with proceeds benefiting the organization. This provides a passive revenue stream through everyday shopping by supporters.
• Girl Scout Troop 1763minorOthersGirl Scout Troop 1763 set up the HARPS wish-list profile on Chewy.com, enabling supporters to purchase needed items directly for the organization. This represents community support and youth engagement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Days End Farm Horse Rescue: Maryland-based nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of horses and other equines. Closest direct comparable to HARPS in mission scope, intake model, and adoption-based outcomes.
• Habitat for Horses: One of the largest equine rescue organizations in the U.S., operating sanctuaries, investigation, and adoption programs. Comparable to HARPS in mission, regulatory advocacy, and rescue operations.
• Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society: Texas-based equine-only rescue focused on neglect/abuse cases, rehabilitation, and adoption. Comparable to HARPS in specialization, intake model, and reliance on donations and volunteers.
• Gentle Barn: Nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates farm animals (horses, cows, pigs, etc.) and runs a therapy program for at-risk youth and children with special needs. Directly comparable to HARPS in combining equine/farm animal rescue with an Equine Assisted Learning-style program.

Others

• Equine Welfare Alliance: Advocacy and policy organization focused on equine welfare, soring, and slaughter issues. Comparable to HARPS in regulatory and legislative engagement, though not in direct rescue operations.
• American Horse Council: National trade association representing the equine industry. Comparable to HARPS in equine-specific policy and education focus, but is an industry membership body rather than a rescue operator.

Broad incumbents

• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Large national animal welfare nonprofit. HSUS encompasses equine welfare as part of a much broader portfolio; comparable to HARPS only at the umbrella animal-welfare layer, not at the equine-specialist level.
• ASPCA: Nationally recognized animal welfare organization with broader species scope. Comparable as a similarly structured nonprofit with law enforcement partnerships, but operates at a vastly larger scale than HARPS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BubblesAndFriendsMiniPigSanctuary/?ref=page_internal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation