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Arbutus Volunteer Fire Dept of Baltimore County Inc

EIN 52-0545525 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF ARBUTUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC. IS TO PROVIDE SUPERIOR FIRE, RESCUE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE ARBUTUS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. WE STRIVE TO PROTECT LIFE, PROPERTY AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH INTERVENTION, PREVENTION, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. THE AFVD CONSISTS OF OPERATIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND AUXILIARY MEMBERS. THE OPERATIONAL MEMBERS ARE FIREFIGHTERS, RESCUE TECHNICIANS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, PARAMEDICS AND SWIFT WATER RESCUE TECHNICIANS WHO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES THROUGH THE ARBUTUS AREA. THE ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBERS PERFORM A WIDE RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES WHICH SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN THE AREA OF FUNDRAISING, COMMUNITY INTERACTION, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, RECRUITMENT/RETENTION, MARKETING, AND A RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES. THE AUXILIARY PROVIDES SUPPORT IN ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES OUTLINED ABOVE, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE AREA OF FUNDRAISING, AND IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
20
Volunteers
250

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $940,589 spent. PROVIDES FIREFIGHTING AND AMBULANCE SERVICES TO ALL CITIZENS OF SOUTHWEST BALTIMORE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS. SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE SWIFT WATER AND OFF-ROAD RESCUE.
  2. $23,838 spent. PROVIDES COMMUNITY SERVICES TO ARBUTUS AND SURROUNDING AREAS BY HOSTING EVENTS SUCH AS THE GOLF TOURNAMENT, CHRISTMAS TRAIN GARDEN, BREAKFAST WITH SANTA, BULL ROAST/CRAB FEAST, FOOD TRUCK EVENTS AND VARIOUS OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
  3. $1,593 spent. PROVIDE FIRE AND RESCUE, EMS TRAINING AND INTERNSHIPS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS.

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 October 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.