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Camp Fire

EIN 42-0680459 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, INCLUDING RESIDENT CAMP, DAY CAMPS AND CLUBS, FOR YOUTH TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL AND TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AS CARING, SELF DIRECTED YOUTH.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
81
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$107,357, former executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 August 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 (3)
  1. $766,839 spent. SUMMER CAMP - CAMP HANTESA HAS BEEN OFFERING YOUTH DAY CAMP EXPERIENCE IN CENTRAL IOWA IN THE DES MOINES RIVER VALLEY FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS. OUR PROGRAMS RANGE FROM A FEW NIGHTS OF CAMP FOR OUR YOUNGEST CAMPERS TO FOUR WEEKS OF INTENSE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH CALLED THE APPRENTICE PROGRAM. MOST YOUTH ATTEND FOR A WEEK, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SWIMMING, CANOEING, KAYAKING, SHOOTING SPORTS, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND MUCH MORE. THE CAMP IS CO-EDUCATIONAL, AND OPEN TO ALL YOUTH NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND OR MEMBERSHIP IN CAMP FIRE. YOUTH AT CAMP HANTESA LEARN LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP SKILLS AS WELL AS LEARNING SELF-RELIANCE THROUGH HANDS ON ACTIVITIES.
  2. $319,484 spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THESE CONSIST OF FOUR PROGRAMS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE NICHE AND DURATION, SERVING SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN DURING THE TIME THEY ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. THE PROGRAMS ARE: CAMP FIRE CLUB, SCHOOL DAY OFF AND BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER DAY CAMPS AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION. OUR PROGRAMS ENRICH THE ACADEMIC LEARNING THAT HAPPENS AT SCHOOL AND HOME WITH SKILLS THAT HELP YOUTH TO THRIVE AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. IN A VERY REAL WAY, CAMP FIRE'S EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAMS PICK UP WHERE SCHOOLS LEAVE OFF BY PROVIDING QUALITY OUT OF SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FROM 1ST GRADE THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EVEN INTO HIGH SCHOOL. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN REINFORCING AND ENHANCING LEARNING, LITERACY, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND STRENGTHENING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND CONNECTIONS.
  3. $309,930 spent. COMMUNITY CENTERS- CAMP FIRE HAS CONDUCTED SUBSIDIZED, LOW COST, FULL DAY DAY CAMPS AT DES MOINES COMMUNITY CENTERS SINCE 1992. WE PROVIDE BOTH INTENSIVE SUMMER PROGRAMMING AND YEAR ROUND PROGRAMS AT THE FOLLOWING SITES: PIONEER/COLUMBUS COMMUNITY CENTER, FOUR MILE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE STRUCTURED LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH 5 DAYS A WEEK FROM 7 AM TO 5:30 PM, WHEN YOUTH ARE OUT OF SCHOOL. CAMPERS PARTICIPATE IN LITERACY AND STEM EDUCATION,COMBATING SUMMER LEARNING LOSS WITH PROVEN POSITIVE OUTCOMES. FOR MANY FAMILIES, THIS CARE IS THE ONLY CARE THEY CAN AFFORD. THE PROGRAMS ARE ON PAR WITH FULL COST PROGRAMS WE OFFER. MEALS ARE PROVIDED EACH DAY TO ENSURE PROPER NUTRITION THROUGH THE SUMMER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 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 July 1969.

    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.