Camp Fire
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IN LIEU OF A MISSION STATEMENT, CAMP FIRE HAS A PROMISE: YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD. CAMP FIRE PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THEIR SPARK, LIFT THEIR VOICE, AND DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE. IN CAMP FIRE, IT BEGINS NOW. LIGHT THE FIRE WITHIN.
- Income
- $829,780
- Spending
- $772,641
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 54%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $79,216, secretary
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
Good: 83 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $718,346 spent. AS AMERICA'S FIRST NONSECTARIAN, MULTICULTURAL ORGANIZATION FOR GIRLS, CAMP FIRE GIRLS WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AS A PROGRAM TO GUIDE YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR JOURNEY TO SELF-DISCOVERY, PROVIDING EXPERIENCES WHICH TAUGHT THEM HOW TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM. IN 1975, THE ORGANIZATION BECAME CO-ED, CHANGING ITS NAME TO CAMP FIRE BOYS AND GIRLS. THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY IN 2010 WAS MARKED BY ANOTHER NAME CHANGE, NOW SIMPLY CAMP FIRE AND A COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING YOUTH, IGNITING CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES AND LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVED. LOCALLY CAMP FIRE CAN TRACE ACTIVITY IN THE GREATER LAKELAND AREA BACK TO 1918. THE SUNSHINE COUNCIL WAS ESTABLISHED AND BECAME INCORPORATED IN 1951. THE COUNCIL WAS RENAMED DURING THE CENTENIAL TO CAMP FIRE SUNSHINE CENTRAL FLORIDA AND CURRENTLY SERVES THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CORRIDOR WITH THE MAJORITY OF ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE IN THE GREATER POLK COUNTY AREA. CAMP FIRE BELIEVES THE BEST LEARNING TAKES PLACE IN SMALL GROUP SETTINGS USING NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY DEVELOPED CURRICULUM TO MEET OR EXCEED PROGRAMMATIC GOALS. THROUGH TIME SPENT WITH TRAINED ADULT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH FIND THEIR INDIVIDUAL SPARKS, INCREASE KNOWLEGE AND SKILLS AND DEVELOP GOAL SETTING ABILITIES. AS CHILDREN GET OLDER, THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO BECOME LEADERS WITHIN CAMP FIRE AND THE COMMUNITY. CAMP FIRE BELIEVES THAT EVERY MOMENT IS A "TEACHABLE MOMENT- AND WE STRIVE TO HELP CHILDREN CONNECT THE DOTS IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. CAMP FIRE IS INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING OF ALL, EMBRACING THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH YOUTH AND FAMILY WE SERVE ULTIMATELY PROVIDING A SAFE, FUN ENVIRONMENT AND SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG PARTICIPANTS. ON AVERAGE, SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE YOUTH SERVED COME FROM FINANCIALLY AT-RISK FAMILIES. CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNCIL CAMPING TRIPS, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST OR ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS CHILDREN (PRE-K THROUGH 5TH GRADE) GAIN THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ACADEMICALLY SUCCEED THROUGH STEAM-BASED (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, MATH) AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. CURRICULUM CORRELATES WITH AGE- APPROPRIATE FLORIDA STANDARDS. HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTATION PROVIDES A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM. CHILDREN INCREASE CONFIDENCE AND SELF-MOTIVATION DURING PROJECTS WHERE THEY EXPLORE, OBSERVE, AND REFLECT. PROGRAMS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO AREAS OF SERVICE, OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME AND ENVIRONMENTAL/CAMP, AND INCLUDE AMONG OTHER THINGS A SUMMER DAY CAMP, AN AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, AND A SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM. PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TO SPECIFIC AGES OF CHILDREN, GROUPS OF YOUTH, AND INTERESTS OR NEEDS OF THE FAMILY. INVOLVEMENT VARIES AND MAY RANGE FROM OCCASIONAL TO CONSTANT ONGOING PARTICIPATION. TEEN PROGRAMS TEENS (6TH-12TH GRADE) LEARN TO SET AND MANAGE GOALS, DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET, AND GAIN LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS; ALL OF WHICH HELP IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL AND ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A STRONGER WORKFORCE IN THE FUTURE. CAMP FIRE HELPS TEENS THRIVE BY UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF BOUNDARIES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICE PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE REAL-LIFE PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS. CAMP FIRE TEENS REGULARLY VOLUNTEER THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF SWEAT EQUITY FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH THEIR GOALS WHILE TEENS GAIN BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. PROGRAMS ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS OF SERVICE, TEEN SERVICE/LEADERSHIP, OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME, AND ENVIRONMENTAL/CAMP, AND HAVE A MULTITUDE OF ACTIVITIES, CAMPS, AND SERVICE PROJECTS OFFERED WITHIN EACH DIVISION. PROGRAMS ARE FOR TEENS AND ARE GEARED TO SPECIFIC AGES, GROUPS OF TEENS, OR INTERESTS. INVOLVEMENT VARIES BY TEEN AND/OR PROJECT, AND MAY RANGE FROM OCCASIONAL TO CONSTANT, ONGOING PARTICIPATION. PROGRAMS ARE OFTEN TEEN- DRIVEN FROM CONCEPT TO IMPLEMENTATION. AS AMERICA'S FIRST NONSECTARIAN, MULTICULTURAL ORGANIZATION FOR GIRLS, CAMP FIRE GIRLS WAS FOUNDED IN 1910 AS A PROGRAM TO GUIDE YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR JOURNEY TO SELF-DISCOVERY, PROVIDING EXPERIENCES WHICH TAUGHT THEM HOW TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM. IN 1975, THE ORGANIZATION BECAME CO-ED, CHANGING ITS NAME TO CAMP FIRE BOYS AND GIRLS. THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY IN 2010 WAS MARKED BY ANOTHER NAME CHANGE, NOW SIMPLY CAMP FIRE AND A COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING YOUTH, IGNITING CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES AND LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVED. LOCALLY CAMP FIRE CAN TRACE ACTIVITY IN THE GREATER LAKELAND AREA BACK TO 1918. THE SUNSHINE COUNCIL WAS ESTABLISHED AND BECAME INCORPORATED IN 1951. THE COUNCIL WAS RENAMED DURING THE CENTENIAL TO CAMP FIRE SUNSHINE CENTRAL FLORIDA AND CURRENTLY SERVES THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CORRIDOR WITH THE MAJORITY OF ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE IN THE GREATER POLK COUNTY AREA. CAMP FIRE BELIEVES THE BEST LEARNING TAKES PLACE IN SMALL GROUP SETTINGS USING NATIONALLY OR LOCALLY DEVELOPED CURRICULUM TO MEET OR EXCEED PROGRAMMATIC GOALS. THROUGH TIME SPENT WITH TRAINED ADULT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH FIND THEIR INDIVIDUAL SPARKS, INCREASE KNOWLEGE AND SKILLS AND DEVELOP GOAL SETTING ABILITIES. AS CHILDREN GET OLDER, THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO BECOME LEADERS WITHIN CAMP FIRE AND THE COMMUNITY. CAMP FIRE BELIEVES THAT EVERY MOMENT IS A "TEACHABLE MOMENT- AND WE STRIVE TO HELP CHILDREN CONNECT THE DOTS IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES. CAMP FIRE IS INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING OF ALL, EMBRACING THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH YOUTH AND FAMILY WE SERVE ULTIMATELY PROVIDING A SAFE, FUN ENVIRONMENT AND SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG PARTICIPANTS. ON AVERAGE, SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE YOUTH SERVED COME FROM FINANCIALLY AT-RISK FAMILIES. CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNCIL CAMPING TRIPS, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST OR ENHANCEMENT A
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
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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 June 2025.
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 April 1958.
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 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.