Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

West Jackson County Fire Department

EIN 47-4358683 · Ocean Springs, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 48% 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

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED: THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IN EVERY CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENTS TRAINING AND ABILITIES; AND THE SUPPRESSION OF ALL FORMS OF FIRE THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE AREA BOUNDED AS FOLLOWS; BEGINNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF INTERSTATE 10 AND THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF JACKSON COUNTY AND FOLLOWING THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF JACKSON COUNTY IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SECTION 3, TOWNSHIP 7 SOUTH, AND RANGE 9 WEST, THENCE EASTERLY ALONG THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF SECTIONS 3, 2 AND 1 OF TOWNSHIP 7 SOUTH, AND RANGE 9 WEST, AND SECTION 1 AND 6 OF TOWNSHIP 7 SOUTH, AND RANGE 8 WEST TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SECTION 6, TOWNSHIP 7 SOUTH, AND RANGE 8 WEST; THENCE IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION ALONG THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF SECTION 6 AND 7, TOWNSHIP 7 SOUTH, AND RANGE 8 WEST TO THE NORTHERN RIGHT-OF-WAY OF INTERSTATE 10; THENCE IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION ALONG THE NORTHERN RIGHT-OF-WAY OF

Income
$191,008
Spending
$151,379
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
34.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
1

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    50 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 September 30, 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. $72,804 spent. THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN EVERY CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENTS TRAINING AND ABILITIES; AND THE SUPPRESSION OF ALL FORMS OF FIRE THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE AREA BOUNDED

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? 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 September 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 August 2016.

    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.