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Camp Fire

EIN 13-1623921 · Kansas City, MO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GROWING UP IS HARD. THAT'S WHY CAMP FIRE CONNECTS YOUNG PEOPLE TO THEMSELVES, OTHERS, AND THE OUTDOORS. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE AND HAVE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR: SELF DISCOVERY--ALL YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEIR SPARK, LIFT THEIR VOICE, AND DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE; COMMUNITY CONNECTION--ALL YOUNG PEOPLE FIND, BUILD, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY, DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPORTIVE ADULTS AND PEERS, FEEL SEEN, HEARD, ACCEPTED, SUPPORTED, AND AFFIRMED FOR WHO THEY ARE TODAY, AND WHO THEY WILL BE IN THE FUTURE; ENGAGEMENT WITH NATURE--ALL YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE POWER AND AWE OF THE OUTDOORS AND LEARN TO RESPECT, LOVE, AND CARE FOR OUR WORLD.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
16
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$271,446, ceo (until 1/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH:CAMP FIRE PROGRAMS CREATE POWERFUL YOUTH EXPERIENCES THAT LEAD TOLONG-TERM BENEFITS AND HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SOCIETY. IN CAMPFIRE'S CORE PROGRAM AREAS OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME, CAMP AND OUTDOORS, ANDTEEN SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DEVELOPING THE ESSENTIALSKILLS AND MINDSETS THAT WE KNOW FROM RESEARCH LEAD TO GREATER OUTCOMESTHAT LAST A LIFETIME! COLLECTIVELY, OUR 47 COUNCILS REACHED AS MANY AS175,000 YOUTH WITH CURRICULA AND SUPPORT TO HELP THEM BEGIN BUILDINGTHRIVING SKILLS FOR TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. BECAUSE OF OURPROGRAMMATIC WORK, 96% OF 3RD THROUGH 5TH GRADERS IN CAMP FIRE AGREEDTHAT ADULTS IN CAMP FIRE CARE ABOUT THEM. ADDITIONALLY, 84% OF 6THTHROUGH 12TH GRADERS AGREED THAT IN CAMP FIRE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE THECHANCE TO TRY A LOT OF THINGS THEY HAVE NEVER TRIED BEFORE. OVERALL,99%OF YOUTH DEMONSTRATED POSITIVE OR DESIRED RESULTS IN AT LEAST ONE OFTHE ELEVEN MEASURED AREAS: LIFE SKILLS, SOCIAL SKILLS (EMPATHY ANDINCLUSIVENESS), SPARK CHAMPIONS, CONFIDENCE, PURPOSE, CONFLICTRESOLUTION, NATURE, SPARK DISCOVERY, GROWTH MINDSET, GOAL MANAGEMENT,AND REFLECTION.
  2. $375,979 spent. SERVICES TO COUNCILS:CAMP FIRE PROVIDES COUNCIL EFFECTIVENESS SERVICES TO 47 COUNCILS ACROSSTHE COUNTRY. WE PROVIDE COUNCILS WITH PROGRAM QUALITY INTERVENTIONTRAINING AND TOOLS; A SUITE OF OUTCOME MEASUREMENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES;OFFER CONSULTATIVE SERVICES TO THEIR BOARD AND STAFF ON FUND RAISING,GOVERNANCE AND MARKETING AND EQUIP THEM WITH CURRICULA TRAINING TOEFFECTIVELY DELIVER PROGRAMS TO YOUTH. MORE THAN 875 COUNCIL STAFF ANDBOARD MEMBERS WERE TRAINED VIA IN PERSON CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, ONLINECOURSES, AND SITE VISITS.
  3. $306,802 spent. COMMUNITY RELATIONS:CAMP FIRE ESTABLISHES BRAND STANDARDS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIASUPPORT FOR USE BY OUR 47 COUNCILS. WE CREATE AND PROVIDE TOOLS FOR OURMEMBER COUNCILS TO USE IN BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS IN THEIR LOCAL AREASFOR THE PROGRAMS AND CURRICULA THAT THEY OFFER. IN ADDITION, WE SUPPORTA NATIONAL WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA SITES DESIGNED TO BUILD AWARENESSFOR CAMP FIRE AS A YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.