Butte County Fire Safe Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BUTTE COUNTY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE WILDFIRE SAFETY IN BUTTE COUNTY THROUGH EDUCATION AND HAZARD MITIGATION AND TO EFFECTIVELY DELIVER THE FIRE SAFE MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS IN FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE AT RISK, THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES AND TO EDUCATE THEM AS TO WHAT IT IS THEY NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR WILDLAND FIRES. IT IS ALSO OUR GOAL TO REDUCE FUEL LOADING IN "COMMUNITIES AT RISK", AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL.
- Income
- $8.5 million
- Spending
- $8.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 97%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 322
- Highest pay
- $139,232, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 59% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (8)
- $6.8 million spent. Forest Health - Mitigation: Over 3,000 acres of hazardous fuels reduction and forest restoration completed.
- $382,420 spent. Education and Outreach: Educated 500 elementary students, tabled at 25 community events, hosted 6 library programs, hosted 24 meetings for Firewise and Safe council leaders.
- $332,947 spent. Biomass Utilization: Supported BDO Zone rating designation and engineering costs for two Biomass Utilization Facilities.
- $163,457 spent. Chipper Program: over 225 residents participated in chipping services for brush clearance on their properties.
- $8,436 spent. Grazing Cooperative: Hosted the 3rd Annual Paradise Grazing Festival and hosted two goat ownership workshops.
- $7,981 spent. Firewise USA: Supported the formation of 20 new Firewise USA communities, attended 10 Firewise USA events, and made 5 educational presentations on the Firewise USA program.
- $905 spent. Doom the Broom: Hosted 6 Doom the Broom volunteer days, led by BCFSC California Climate Action Corps Fellows, in partnership with Paradise Recreation & Park District and loaned 50 weed wrench tools to community members.
- $528 spent. Residents Assistance Program: No calendar year acheivements. Preparing for 2025 program activities.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.