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Santa Clara Firefighters Foundation

EIN 27-0002499 · Santa Clara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceWeak19 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Mission of the Santa Clara Fire Fighters Foundation is to promote the welfare of the community by providing services and support to youth, seniors, disabled, and disaster victims.OUR PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AFTER FIRE OR OTHER TRAGEDIES AND TO WORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS THROUGH DONATIONS AND MENTORSHIP.

Income
$37,325
Spending
$50,330
Spent on programs
27%
Reserves
46.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 46.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    27% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (12)
  1. $5,000 spent. MISSION COLLEGE 5K RUN - FUNDS PROVIDE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY
  2. $2,000 spent. FIREHOUSE RUN - 5K FAMILY RUN TO SUPPORT SANTA CLARA SCHOOLS FOUNDATION. SEVERAL HUNDRED CHILDREN
  3. $1,200 spent. BILL WILSON CENTER - SUPPORTS PEOPLE OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY PREVENT POVERTY THROUGH COUNSELING, HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY
  4. $1,000 spent. WILLIAM PURVIS COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP FUND - SCHOLARSHIPS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIAPTE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES - 2 STUDENTS PER YEAR
  5. $1,000 spent. ALISA ANN RUCH BURN FOUNDATION - DELIVERING FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION AND SERVICES TO BURN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA
  6. $1,000 spent. TURNING WHEELS FOR KIDS - PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH SAFE NEW BIKES TO ENCOURAGE LIFE LONG HABITS OF EXERCISE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND INDEPENDENCE
  7. $850 spent. SCUSD DEAF/HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM - OFFERS REGIONAL DEAF/HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES UNDER THE ELIGIBILITY OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT
  8. $360 spent. NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION - MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN DISASTER RESPONSE IN AMERICA BY RESCUING AND RECRUITING DOGS AND PARTNERING THEM WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS TO FIND PEOPLE BURIED ALIVE IN WRECKAGE OF DISASTERS.
  9. $292 spent. BETTER TOGETHER - FOSTER LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, PROJECTS, AND EVENTS. FIREFIGHTERS AND STUDENTTS WORK TOGETHER TO LEARN SKILLS AND OPENLY DISCUSS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACED AS THEY TRANSITION INTO TEEN YEARS.
  10. $250 spent. SANTA CLARA WESTSIDE LITTLE LEAGUE - PROVIDES SUPERVISED BASEBALL PROGRAMS IN SANTA CLARA UNDER LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
  11. $250 spent. POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE FUND - POLICE TECAHING YOUTH VALUES AND REWARDS THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ATHLETICS
  12. $157 spent. SENIOR ASSIST - VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PROVIDING SERVICE TO ELDERLY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. FOCUS IS ON SAFETY CONCERNS AROUND THE HOME INCLUDING ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES AND FIRE HARZARDS FROM OVERGROWN VEGETATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.