Passes our checks

Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department Inc

EIN 56-1360061 · Vilas, NC

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

What it says it does

COVE CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO ASSISTING ITS RESIDENTS IN FIRE SUPPRESSION AND EMT RESPONSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 41.9 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 41% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
5 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
10 of 10
Gave 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (1)

$349,962 spent. COVE CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ORGANIZED JANUARY, 1969, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FIRE PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE CITIZENS OF COVE CREEK COMMUNITY, WATAUGA COUNTY, NC. IN AUGUST, 1996, A FIRST RESONDER UNIT WAS ADDED AND IS COORDINATED WITH THE LOCAL EMS. CURRENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GROUP INCLUDE FIRE SUPPRESSION, LIGHT VEHICLE RESCUE, FIRE PREVENTION, HASARDOUS MATERIALS SCENE MANAGEMENT, AND FIRST RESPONDER RESPONSES. THE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO ____529_______ SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN 2024, WITH INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES TOTALING __2007_____. SOME INCIDENTS REQUIRED BOTH FIRE AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED 3813.5 HOURS OF TRAINING DURING 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.