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San Antonio Fire Museum Society

EIN 20-8446853 · San Antonio, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE MUSEUM SOCIETY IS TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE HERITAGE AND HISTORY OF FIRE FIGHTING IN SAN ANTONIO, AND TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF FIRE SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

Income
$305,459
Spending
$173,123
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
35 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
1
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$26,000, president/ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.0 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 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $160,855 spent. THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE MUSEUM, LOCATED BEHIND THE ALAMO, WHICH IS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, IS IDEALLY LOCATED TO SHOWCASE THE RICH HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING IN SAN ANTONIO. OVER 7500 VISITORS WERE ENTERTAINED IN THE ORIGINAL 1939 STRUCTURE WHICH WAS THE CENTRAL FIRE HEADQUARTERS UNTIL 2012. THE MUSEUM OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC IN 2013. DURING OUR HOURS OF OPERATION (TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY, 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.), OUR VOLUNTEER STAFF GREETED VISITORS, TELLING THEM THE HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING IN SAN ANTONIO AND SHARING FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCES OF THEIR FIREFIGHTING EXPERIENCES. OUR DOCENTS, WHO ARE MOSTLY RETIRED SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS, ARE FREQUENTLY MENTIONED IN VISITORS' ONLINE POSTS AS THE HIGH POINT OF THEIR VISIT. THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE CONDUCTED MANY FIRE SAFETY PRESENTATIONS TO SCHEDULED GROUPS. OUR COLLECTIONS GROUP RECEIVED NUMEROUS DONATIONS WHICH WERE CATALOGUED AND EITHER STORED, OR USED IN ENHANCING OUR DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS. OUR ANTIQUE FIRE TRUCKS PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL PARADES IN SAN ANTONIO AND SURROUNDING AREAS. VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR TOTALED OVER 12,400. WE REMAIN IN A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION THANKS TO THE CONTINUED GENEROSITY OF OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS. WE ENJOYED VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENTS DURING THE YEAR. SIGNIFICANT STRIDES WERE MADE DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR TO EXPAND OUR DISPLAYS AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. THE MUSEUM CURRENTLY OCCUPIES ONLY ONE OF THREE FLOORS IN THE HISTORICAL CENTRAL FIRE HEADQUARTERS. OUR FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE EXPANDING OUR DISPLAY AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS INTO THE SECOND FLOOR AND UTILIZING THE BASEMENT FOR OFFICE SPACE AND LONG-TERM STORAGE. THIS WILL REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO RENOVATE THE MUSEUM SINCE WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO ELEVATOR TO SERVICE THE THREE FLOORS. WE ENGAGED AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, ALONG WITH AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO CREATE A PLAN, WITH APPROXIMATE COSTS, FOR THE RENOVATION. IN THE FALL OF 2024 WE LAUNCHED A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS RENOVATION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.