Passes our checks

Guardian Hose Company Inc Volunteer Fire Company-86

EIN 52-6057014 · Thurmont, MD

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

What it says it does

VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE COMPANY FOUNDED IN 1887 EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3).

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 41.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15
Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
12 of 12 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
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$369,428 spent. THE GUARDIAN HOSE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY RESPONDED TO 1,118 EMERGENCY CALLS FROM JULY 2024 - JUNE 2025. THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF AN 84 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA. THIS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL FUNDS ARE RAISED WITHOUT A FEE FOR SERVICES RENDERED.
THE GUARDIAN HOSE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY PERSONNEL PARTICIPATED IN 50 TRAINING AND COMPANY DRILL HOURS TO AGGRESSIVELY TRAIN ITS MEMBERS. THIS COMPANY ACTIVELY RECRUITS NEW MEMBERS AND PARTICIPATES ANNUALLY WITH FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AT THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.
GUARDIAN HOSE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY PROVIDES AN ULTRA MODERN FACILITY FOR COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.