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Wantagh Fire Department

EIN 27-4395261 · Wantagh, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF FIRE FIGHTING,FIRE PROTECTION, FIRE SAFETY, FIRE EDUCATION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

Income
$249,513
Spending
$279,388
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$9,000, treasurer

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $208,715 spent. GIFTS, GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER NPOS:THE WANTAGH FIRE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL DIRECT MAIL AND "DOOR-TO-DOOR" FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN. ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES OF THE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATE BY VOLUNTERRING THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO THE FUNDRAISING EFFORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THEN GRANTS THE NET PROCEEDS GENERATED FROM THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN TO THE DEPARTMENT'S FIRE COMPANIES IN ORDER TO ASSIST THE FIRE COMPANIES IN PROVIDING VOLUNTEER FIRE PROTECTION, FIRE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE AND REMOVAL SERVICES, AND LIFE PRESERVATION SERVICES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. MONEYS DISTRIBUTED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S FIRE COMPANIES ALSO ASSISTS THE FIRE COMPANIES IN PROVIDING MUTUAL AID TO SURROUNDING DISTRICTS.TO CONTINUE, THE WANTAGH FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANTS MONEYS TO OTHER OUTSIDE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE, EDUCATION AND THE BETTERMENT OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
  2. $52,229 spent. THE WANTAGH FIRE DEPARTMENT SPONSORS VARIOUS MORALE BUILDING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ITS CURRENT VOLUNTEER MEMBERS, INCLUDING INTERACTIVE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS RELATED TO FIRE SAFETY, EMERGENCY SERVICES, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND FIRST AID. SUCH EVENTS PROMOTE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENCOURAGE PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS TO JOIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

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 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 2024.

    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 January 2012.

    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.