Scholarship Gifts
one of the most direct and meaningful ways to support our mission!
High Hopes Scholarship: Making Healing Possible
Support our Participants | Support our Staff
For many individuals with all abilities, equine-assisted services are not just recreational - they are therapeutic, empowering, and life-changing.
Horses help improve balance, coordination, communication, confidence, and emotional well-being. But for many families, the cost of ongoing sessions can be a significant barrier.
Because horses are central to everything we do, our operating costs are significant. Feed, veterinary care, farrier services, facility maintenance, adaptive equipment, and certified staff are all absolutely essential. Scholarship donations allow us to meet these needs while keeping our programs affordable and accessible. The true direct cost of a High Hopes session is $334 dollars. Because of supporters like you, High Hopes only invoices families $75 on average. Your donation to our Scholarship Fund offsets the costs to families by $259 per session.
Make a gift to our scholarship fund today!Let's Do the Math
YOUR SCHOLARSHIP DONATION GIVES MORE THAN FINANCIAL SUPPORT – IT GIVES ACCESS, CONFIDENCE, AND THE FREEDOM TO PARTICIPATE
For example, if we look at the difference between the true direct cost and the actual cost of lessons for one participant over the course of a year, which is inclusive of our academic sessions and our summer sessions, the difference is immediately evident.
The true direct cost of an unsubsidized High Hopes lesson is $334, meaning the annual, unsubsidized cost is $12,358. The actual average cost to the participant of a subsidized High Hopes lesson is $75, meaning they would only be billed $2,705 annually.
$9,653. That is how much your gift to the Scholarship Fund is saving each participant per year. Your impact is real and makes a true difference to families. For every lesson delivered, philanthropy is covering the majority of the cost to families.
What is a Scholarship Fund donation?
The High Hopes Scholarship Fund gives all of our participants the opportunity to participate in our equine-assisted services by offsetting the true cost of sessions. 100% of all High Hopes participants receive this tuition subsidy, accounting for $1.12 million of our annual budget in FY2026.
In addition to this tuition subsidy, 1 in 3 participants request additional financial aid – nearly $63,000 is awarded each year!
What this looks like:
WHY THIS MATTERS
Your gift to the Scholarship Fund ensures that no participant is turned away due to financial hardship. Many of the individuals we serve already face increased medical, educational, and caregiving expenses. Without this subsidy, equine-assisted therapy, despite its proven benefits, would remain out of reach for those who may need it most.
Your gift supports:
- Participants with physical, cognitive, emotional, or developmental disabilities
- Individuals living with trauma or neurological conditions
- Families managing long-term medical costs
- And many, many more!
At the heart of our work are our dedicated professionals who make every lesson, connection, and breakthrough possible!
Invest in Our People, Strengthen Our Programs
Our High Hopes Staff Scholarship Fund for Training and Education invests in the growth of our instructors, and equine professionals – so they can continue delivering the highest quality equine-assisted services to individuals with all abilities.
Becoming a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) requires ongoing education, training, and significant financial commitment. This scholarship fund reduces financial barriers for staff who are passionate about advancing their skills, deepening their knowledge, and strengthening their impact.
Make a gift to our staff scholarship fund today!Why this matters
Every scholarship dollar supports coursework, certification fees, continuing education, and professional development opportunities that directly enhance our mission.
This fund is powered by our own community –
Together, we can ensure that those who give so much of themselves every day have the support they need to continue learning, leading, and changing lives.
Thank you for supporting our staff – and the people we serve – every step of the way!
Recently at High Hopes
Our Stories
