The Stamford Emergency Medical Services Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 117 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE BASIC BELIEFS AND PHILOSOPHIES OF THE CORPORATION ARE TO PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF STAMFORD WITH HIGH QUAILITY PROFESSIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, INCLUDING ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES AND TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO TREAT EACH PATIENT, COWORKER AND VOLUNTEER IN A PROFESSIONAL, COURTEOUS AND COMPASSIONATE MANNER. TO RENDER TREATMENT TO ALL PATIENTS AS PRESCRIBED AND DIRECTED BY THE MEDICAL CONTROL AUTHORITY AND THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. TO NEVER DENY ANY PERSON TREATMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES RENDERED. TO PROMOTE VOLUNTEERING AS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF COMMUNITY CONTACT AND SERVICE. TO PROVIDE INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS A PLACE OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ENTERING THE EMS PROFESSION. TO OPERATE ITS BUSINESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BYLAWS OF THE CORPORATION AND ANY GOVERNING LAWS OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
- Income
- $12.6 million
- Spending
- $12.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 99
- Volunteers
- 39
- Highest pay
- $344,354, executive director
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: 75 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 117 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.
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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 (2)
- $10.8 million spent. SEMS' GOAL IS TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT, COMPASSIONATE, HIGH QUALITY, PRE-HOSPITAL PARAMEDIC SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF STAMFORD. WE ALSO PROVIDE PARAMEDIC INTERCEPT SERVICE TO THE NEIGHBORING TOWN OF DARIEN. IN THE LAST YEAR SEMS RESPONDED TO 18,007 CALLS FOR HELP INCLUDING 628 RESPONSES TO DARIEN. 7,670 OF THOSE CALLS REQUIRED OUR HIGHLY TRAINED PARAMEDICS TO PERFORM ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS) INTERVENTIONS. SEMS RESPONDED TO OVER 93% OF ALL CALLS WITHIN THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDED TARGET OF 8 MINUTES AND SEMS HAS AN AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME OF 4.69 MINUTES TO ALS CALLS.
- $77,429 spent. SEMS ACADEMY OFFERS QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ALL LEVELS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. FROM CPR AND BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS TO ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT COURSES TO CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES LIAISONS, SEMS ACADEMY SUPPORTS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.