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First Response Team of America Corp

EIN 26-2811507 · Lancaster, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE PRE-POSITIONED, SPECIALIZED HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND EXPERIENCED STAFF, FREE OF CHARGE, IN THE IMMEDIATE WAKE OF DISASTERS. THE TEAM STUDIES WEATHER PATTERNS AND PRE-POSITIONS NEAR STORM LOCATIONS FOR THE PUPOSE OF BEING AN IMMEDIATE SOURCE OF HELP AND HOPE TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED.

Income
$589,260
Spending
$883,699
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-15.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
4
Highest pay
$214,017, ceo/chairman

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

Financial health

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

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

Governance

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

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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

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. $757,742 spent. IN 2025, THE FIRST RESPONSE TEAM OF AMERICA RESPONDED TO MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES HIT HARD BY DISASTERS INCLUDING MULTIPLE LARGE-SCALE, DEVASTATING FLOODS THAT STRUCK TEXAS AND PENNSYLVANIA. KENTUCKY ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERE FLOODS AND TORNADOES THAT DEVASTATED BOTH LARGE CITIES AND SMALL COMMUNITIES ALIKE. THE TEAM CLEARED DEBRIS FROM ROADS, HOMESITES, AND BUSINESSES; PUMPED OUT STORMWATER; RESTORED TEMPORARY POWER; AND DELIVERED CRITICAL RELIEF TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 May 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.