Horizon City Volunteer Fire Department Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF HORIZON CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH INTERACTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, COMPASSIONATE SERVICE AND AN ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCOURAGES INNOVATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DIVERSITY.
- Income
- $447,648
- Spending
- $427,365
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $31,739, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 250% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 September 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)
- $393,247 spent. AS FIRST RESPONDERS TO FIRES, PUBLIC SAFETY AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS AND TERRORIST ACTS, HORIZON CITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PROTECTS THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN ITS RESPONSE AREA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS IN EL PASO COUNTY. THE DEPARTMENT ADVANCES PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH ITS FIRE PREVENTION, INVESTIGATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THESE SERVICES ENABLES THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY OF THE AREA IT SERVES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION RESPONDED TO 5,540 INCIDENTS. SINCE ITS FORMATION, THE DEPARTMENT'S MOST SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF SUPPORT HAS BEEN ITS STIPEND CONTRACT WITH THE EL PASO COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO.1 (ESD), WHICH REQUIRES THAT ANY FUNDS TRANSFERRED BY ESD ARE TO BE USED EXCUSIVELY TO COVER THE COST OF THE STIPEND PROGRAM, AND ONLY ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO USE $25,000 FOR UNRESTRICTED ACTIVITIES AS THE DEPARTMENT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS SEES FIT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXEMPT PURPOSES. THE STIPEND PROGRAM BENEFITS NOT ONLY THE AREA WITHIN ESD'S JURISDICTION BUT ALL SURROUNDING AREAS OF EL PASO COUNTY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 August 2015.
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.