Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Company No 1 Inc

EIN 52-0527635 · Westminster, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WESTMINSTER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY EMERGENCY SERVICES TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY THROUGH PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, AND RESPONSE, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS MEMBERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
19.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 63%
Employees
2
Volunteers
130

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

Financial health

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% 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 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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. $880,359 spent. THE WESTMINSTER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE, FIRE SUPPRESSION, RESCUE SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. IN 2025, THE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 7,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE, THE HIGHEST CALL VOLUME IN THE COUNTY, WHILE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES AND INCREASE PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS. A TOTAL OF 55 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS RESPONDED TO OVER 4,900 INCIDENTS, WITH THE MOST ACTIVE MEMBERS HANDLING MORE THAN 68% OF ALL CALLS. VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED MORE THAN 1,900 HOURS OF TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL READINESS. IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY OUTREACH, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ITS JUNIOR FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, CAMP COPS, AND THE CARROLL COUNTY 4-H FAIR, PROVIDING EDUCATION ON FIRE PREVENTION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND LIFE SAFETY. THESE COMBINED EFFORTS STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SAFETY, IMPROVE EMERGENCY READINESS, AND SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE WESTMINSTER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE, FIRE SUPPRESSION, RESCUE SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. IN 2025, THE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 7,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE, THE HIGHEST CALL VOLUME IN THE COUNTY, WHILE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES AND INCREASE PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS. A TOTAL OF 55 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS RESPONDED TO OVER 4,900 INCIDENTS, WITH THE MOST ACTIVE MEMBERS HANDLING MORE THAN 68% OF ALL CALLS. VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED MORE THAN 1,900 HOURS OF TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL READINESS. IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY OUTREACH, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ITS JUNIOR FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, CAMP COPS, AND THE CARROLL COUNTY 4-H FAIR, PROVIDING EDUCATION ON FIRE PREVENTION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND LIFE SAFETY. THESE COMBINED EFFORTS STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SAFETY, IMPROVE EMERGENCY READINESS, AND SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 2014.

    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.