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Western Reserve Fire Museum at Cleveland Inc

EIN 34-1590214 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE A FIRST-CLASS REGIONAL FIRE MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE FIRE SAFETY PROGRAMMING AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FIRE DEATHS AND INJURIES IN NORTHEAST OHIO.IT IS ALSO TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE SERVICE BY COLLECTING HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT FIRE-RELATED MATERIAL, AND PRESERVING ITS HISTORICAL BUILDING, FORMERLY THE CLEVELAND FIRE ALARM OFFICE AND STATION #28 LOCATED AT 310 CARNEGIE AVENUE, CLEVELAND OHIO

Income
$223,371
Spending
$201,182
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
1
Volunteers
40

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: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% 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

Fair: 62 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 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

    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.

  • 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. $129,066 spent. THE WESTERN RESERVE FIRE MUSEUM AT CLEVELAND, INC. CONTINUES TO PROGRESS TOWARDS BECOMING A FIRST CLASS FIRE MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, OHIO. THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 310 CARNEGIE AVENUE, CLEVELAND OHIO OPENED ON DECEMBER 27, 2017, AND THE SECOND FLOOR OPENED ON OCTOBER 01, 2024.
  2. $1,169 spent. THE WESTERN RESERVE FIRE MUSEUM AT CLEVELAND, INC. HAS A FUNERAL CAISSON, WHICH IS A RECONDITIONED FIRE TRUCK. THE FUNERAL CAISSON IS USED TO ESCORT OUR DECEASED FIRE FIGHTERS THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST OHIO. THE TRUCK WAS SOLD AT A GAIN OF $14,000 WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE REVENUE REPORTED ABOVE.

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 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 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 December 1993.

    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.