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Steele Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Services Inc

EIN 56-1964419 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceWeak40 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE FIRE AND FIRST RESPONDER MEDICAL SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES LOCATED IN THE STEELE CREEK NORTH CAROLINA FIRE DISTRICT - AN AREA OF OVER 26 SQUARE MILES. OTHER RELATED SERVICES ARE TO PROVIDE BACKUP FIRE AND MEDICAL SERVICES WHEN REQUESTED BY OTHER FIRE DISTRICTS. PROVIDE FIRE AND MEDICAL RELATED TRAINING TO MEMBERS OF THE DEPT.

Income
$5.2 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
51
Highest pay
$89,000, chief

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 9% 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

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% 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

Governance

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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

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 (5)
  1. $2.7 million spent. DUE TO GROWTH IN THE AREA, STEELE CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO HIRE SEVEN ADDITIONAL FULL TIME EMPLOYEES THIS YEAR SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON PROVIDING IMPROVED RESPONSES TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.
  2. $175,976 spent. DUE TO THE NEW GROWTH IN THE AREA, STEELE CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE.
  3. DUE TO THE NEW GROWTH IN THE AREA, STEELE CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE. THE ADDITIONAL VEHICLE AND INFLATION ATTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASE IN INSURANCE EXPENSE.
  4. $2.2 million spent. OVER 1,200 CALLS WERE RESPONDED TO BY THE DEPARTMENT TO THE MORE THAN 17,000 BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE AREA.
  5. OVER 1,200 CALLS WERE RESPONDED TO BY THE DEPARTMENT TO THE MORE THAN 17,000 BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE AREA.

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 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 June 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 1996.

    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.