Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Russell Volunteer Fire Department Inc

EIN 20-4732376 · Russell, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OBJECT OF THE ORGANIZATION SHALL BE THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM AND DURING SUCH FIRES AND EMERGENCIES AS MAY OCCUR IN PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP AND VICINITY.

Income
$271,193
Spending
$247,598
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
25.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
0
Volunteers
35

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (2)
  1. $165,148 spent. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANSWERING ALL CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY, PA, AND FOR A DESIGNATED AREA OF FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY, PA. THE VOLUNTEERS RESPOND TO MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS (MVA) AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) CALLS, STRUCTURE FIRES, VEHICLE FIRES, WILD LAND FIRES, TRAFFIC CONTROL, AND GENERAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WHEN NEEDED.APPROXIMATELY 40+ MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN FIREFIGHTING DUTIES AND THE JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
  2. $70,778 spent. AMBULANCE SERVICE: THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANSWERING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) CALLS FOR PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY, PA, AND FOR A DESIGNATED AREA OF FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP, WARREN COUNTY, PA.

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

  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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on March 15, 2016.

    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 December 2024.

    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 June 2016.

    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.