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Washtenaw Area Mutual Aid Assocation

EIN 46-1456488 · Ann Arbor, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 50% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO OPERATE EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING SUCH PURPOSES AS, SUPPORTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN WASHTENAW COUNTY AS WELL AS PARTS OF WESTERN WAYNE, LENAWEE, MONROE AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES. OUR ASSOCIATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC CONCERNING FIRE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THE INTERACTION BETWEEN SUPPORT AGENCIES AND OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES, MAKING DISTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS EXEMPT ORGAINZATIONS UNDER SECTION 501 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, OR ANY FUTURE CORRESPONDING SECTION OF THE FEDERAL TAX CODE.

Income
$182,694
Spending
$329,388
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
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

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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, 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 (1)
  1. $163,442 spent. TO OPERATE EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING SUCH PURPOSES AS, SUPPORTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN WASHTENAW COUNTY AS WELL AS PARTS OF WESTERN WAYNE, LENAWEE, MONROE AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES. OUR ASSOCIATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC CONCERNING FIRE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THE INTERACTION BETWEEN SUPPORT AGENCIES AND OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES, MAKING DISTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS EXEMPT ORGAINZATIONS UNDER SECTION 501 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, OR ANY FUTURE CORRESPONDING SECTION OF THE FEDERAL TAX CODE.

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 September 2018.

    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.