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San Diego Regional Fire and Emergency Services Foundation

EIN 33-0386687 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
0

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

Good: 72 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 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

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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. TO PROVIDE BASIC FIRE AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING NEEDED BY FIREFIGHTERS, THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THOSE WHICH ARE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE THE TAX BASIS IS NOT ADEQUATE TO ENABLE THE ACQUISITION OF NEEDED EQUIPMENT. THE FOUNDATIONS GOAL IS FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE WITHOUT REGARD TO WHERE THEY LIVE AND TO STRENGTHEN THE WEAKEST LINK IN OUR COUNTYS SYSTEM OF EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL SERVICES. DUE TO THE HIGH RISK OF WILDFIRES IN OUR COUNTY RESULTING FROM THE REGIONS ARID CONDITION, ROUGH TERRAIN, HEAVY FUELS AND STRONG WINDS, IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL FIRE AGENCIES WORK EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER, WE CANNOT AFFORD A WEAK LINK.
  2. $846,415 spent. TO ACHIEVE THE FOUNDATIONS ULTIMATE GOAL OF SAN DIEGO BEING THE SAFEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT FIRES, AS WELL AS HAVING TOP CALIBER FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO RESPOND WHEN THERE IS A FIRE. TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH THE REGIONAL FIRE SAFE COUNCIL (FSC) AND OVER 40 LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED FSCS. WITH FOUNDATION GRANTS, THESE LOCAL FSCS IDENTIFY FIRE-RISK AREAS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, PERFORM BRUSH MANAGEMENT, PROVIDE CHIPPING SERVICES AND DUMPSTERS FOR RESIDENTS MAKING THEIR PROPERTIES FIRE SAFE. IN ADDITION, COMMUNITY EDUCATION SESSIONS ARE HELD INFORMING RESIDENTS OF ACTIONS NEEDED TO MAKE THEIR PROPERTY SAFER, AND WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO TAKE WITH THEM IF THEY MUST EVACUATE THEIR HOMES.
  3. $129,701 spent. THREE INTERRELATED COMMUNITY ISSUES ARE 1) LACK OF YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING THE FIRE SERVICES AS A CAREER, 2) FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL LACK THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVICE, AND 3) YOUNG ADULTS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES OFTEN LACK KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ABOUT FIRE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOLS AND FIRE CHIEFS, THE FIRE FOUNDATION IS DEVELOPING A HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH BASIC FIREFIGHTING AND MEDICAL BACKGROUND, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME EMTS (EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS) AND QUALIFIED TO ENTER THE FIRE SERVICE AT AGE 18. ADDITIONALY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO ATTEND A FIRE ACADEMY OR PARAMEDIC SCHOOL TO LOW INCOME YOUNG ADULTS.
  4. TO STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THE FOUNDATION SEEKS STRONG & EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES TO PROVIDE QUALITY FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY; TO GIVE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SVC PROVIDERS ACCESS TO BASIC EQUIPMENT, TRAINING AND TRAINING MATERIALS; TO FACILITATE MULTI-JURISDICTINAL COORDINATION AND COOPERATION; AND TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT FIRE PREPAREDNESS & SAFETY PRECAUTIONS THEY CAN TAKE & ABOUT THE SYSTEM OF FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES.

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 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 October 13, 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 2025.

    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 February 1990.

    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 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.