Passes our checks

Middlebush Volunteer Fire Department

EIN 22-3189440 · Somerset, NJ

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

What it says it does

To protect life and property from fire and the resulting damage.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
39 of 39 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.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$153,634 spent. During 2025, Middlebush Vol Fire Dept. responded to approximately 1,032 calls protecting life and property from fire damage.
$91,061 spent. In order to protect the community, firemen must be trained. In 2025, drills and training courses representing approximately 787 drill manhours over 35 fire drills were completed.
$39,979 spent. Maintaining the building and equipment is critical to be ready to respond to calls and to train the firemen. During 2025, approximately 3,565 man hours were completed in maintaining the firehouse, fire equipment and fire trucks.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 December 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 1997.
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.