Grant Application for
Northern Michigan Equine Therapy
Mission Statement:
Northern Michigan Equine Therapy (NMET) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and outpatient rehabilitation center whose mission is to harness the healing power of horses to improve lives. NMET is dedicated to using the healing nature of horses as a therapeutic tool to enhance independence, self-confidence and quality of life for those living with physical and mental health needs. Our programs are offered by licensed and certified professionals to provide services to those in need within the community.
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Tax ID Number:
30-0838013
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Courtney
Sumpter
Address:
5025 Church Rd.
Email:
Phone Number:
231-881-5590
Website:
Project Name:
HorseSense® to Empower Women and Girls
Project start and end dates:
August 1, 2024
August 1, 2025
Amount Requested:
$
4500
Project Description:
As part of our Mission, Northern Michigan Equine Therapy will never deny a client care because of inability to pay for services. However we do ask our clients to contribute what they can and sponsorship support is available. For this purpose NMET created our Therapy Assistance Fund to provide that support, bridging the gap for approximately 60% of all clients to ensure our services are accessible to our community.
The need is great, especially during this time of continuing inflation on cost of living. In 2023 we awarded $25,000.00 in scholarship funds, and expect that need to exceed that number for 2024 and have set a fundraising goal for our fund for $35,000.00. Throughout the year, NMET holds fundraising initiatives in support of the fund, including events, matching gift drives, partnering up with local business and nonprofits and sponsorship opportunities, it is the ongoing annual support from our community partners that make this scholarship program possible.
Goal of the Project
How many people will you reach?
100
What percentage are female?
80
If your program serves both males and females, how will Hestia funds specifically target women and girls?
Given that annually, NMET's clients average to be 80% female and of that number 85% of our clients are ages 5-18, and 15% are over the age of 18, NMET can certainly allocate scholarship funding from Hestia specifically to female program participants.
In addition to our therapy services and HorseSense® self-development programs. During the summer months, NMET hosts an annual Girls Group program which focuses on advanced horsemanship and leadership skills. Funds from our Therapy Assistance Fund are also dedicated to supporting girls and young women who seek support for these sessions.
Our Girls group is unique because this group encompasses all abilities. Some of the girls may have learning disabilities, some struggle with stress and attention to task, and/or anxieties in everyday life. And some of the girls just want to have fun with horses and enjoy the social aspect. By blending all of these girls' abilities we are able to watch young girls lift each other up, build friendships, help each other out in areas of need and overall have fun and build bonds with each other and their horses. This will be our 7th year holding our summer girls group program. Averaging 8-14 girls per year for 8 weeks. Ages ranging 6-15 years old.
How are recipients identified or selected to receive services? Is financial need considered?
At the time of a potential client evaluation, which is facilitated by our Executive Director and Occupational Therapist, Courtney Sumpter M.S. OTR/L, clients and/or their legal guardians may request scholarship support based on their financial need. We ask for all clients to pay what they can, and NMET works to supplement the balance on a sliding-scale with the support of the Therapy Assistance Fund. An application is required to receive funding from NMET’s Therapy Assistance Fund.
What do you hope to achieve? What difference will this make in the lives of women and girls?
How will this project meet Hestia's mission statement?
NMET relies on donations to sponsor and support accessibility of our work to clients with these important therapies, and we appreciate support at any level. By asking clients to meet us where they can financially we are instilling a mutual commitment to this work. Through our services we empower individuals, teaching leadership, self-confidence and worth, responsibility and accountability.
NMET is committed to using the healing nature of horses as a therapeutic tool to enhance independence, self-confidence and quality of life for all of our clients, and these outcomes are truly remarkable for our female clients. As a female-founded, run, and staffed organization, we are a living model of what can be accomplished by women at any stage of life. What started with one female occupational therapist and one horse, has now grown to a thriving non-profit with a full team of equine therapists (horses) and a staff of inspiring and dedicated women from a variety of backgrounds who are devoted to this work and to setting a positive example to our community.
How will you evaluate or measure your success:
As long as we are able to support our community's needs in a way that is sustainable to our organization and meets the financial needs of each client and their family we are successful. We look back at our annual numbers, to see where the need is highest and measure that against our participation fees to budget for our annual Therapy Assistance Fund.
Our programming successes are measured in client case studies and we issue pre-and post-program surveys. We closely evaluate and consider our survey data to ensure our recommended numbers of sessions in a package are meeting the needs of clients and that we are offering adequate funds to meet those needs.
Grant Project Budget Form
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