A local nonprofit is back on its feet again after it faced a shortfall of funding this fall.

Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities, or TROT, saw a surge of support from the community after the organization shared concerns about its financial situation. 

TROT provides therapeutic riding and other equine-assisted activities to help participants of all ages physically, emotionally and socially. 

The nonprofit relies on revenue from its programs and classes, which won’t start up until February, leaving the organization struggling to get by during the winter months. 

In a September letter to supporters, Maria Castillo, president of the TROT board, asked for $15,000 to keep the nonprofit afloat. In October, Executive Director Cynthia MacFarlan said that TROT needed about $40,000 to make it through until February. 

Since then, the organization has seen a wave of support. Multiple grants came through, MacFarlan reported, bringing in about $37,000, and the organization saw 60 to 70 donations between new monthly donors and one-time donors. 

MacFarlan was thankful to the community “for rallying to the cause. Every little bit helped and it was so heartwarming to see how the community embraced TROT.” She said it reaffirmed the importance of the nonprofit’s services in the community. 

Typically, sponsorships from TROT’s Mane Event, a summertime fundraiser featuring dancing, auctions and more, go a long way toward supporting the nonprofit’s efforts for the year. 

Grants also help, but “part of our issue was timing,” MacFarlan said. “…Cash flow wasn’t there when we needed it. But you never know about grants, if they’re going to be awarded or not.”

Looking forward, TROT plans to increase its monthly donorship, and currently has a goal of 200 monthly donors. That can be a donation at any level, MacFarlan said, whether that’s $5 or $10 a month or more. 

“That monthly donorship will really help level out our sustainability,” she said.

Aside from monthly donorship, those interested in supporting TROT can do so through a one-time donation, adopting a horse, or planned giving.

“We are still a young organization, and so we’re just building some of those sustainability structures,” MacFarlan said.

Go to: trot3cities.org.