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California Fire Foundation

EIN 68-0118991 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CALIFORNIA FIRE FOUNDATION (CFF) IS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CHARITY THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF FIRE AND CONDUCTS PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS ABOUT FIRE SAFETY AND THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF FIRE. IT RECOGNIZES THE COURAGE OF FIRE FIGHTERS, AND THE PERSEVERANCE AND SACRIFICE OF FIRE VICTIMS. THE CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL, LOCATED AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN SACRAMENTO, WAS BUILT AND IS MAINTAINED BY CFF. IT HONORS FIRE FIGHTERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND SERVES AS A PUBLIC TRIBUTE TO THE HEROISM OF THE PROFESSION AND TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
20.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$210,436, president

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 11 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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

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. $1.3 million spent. THE CFF PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT FIRE SAFETY AND CONDUCTS PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION THROUGH ITS PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, "FIREFIGHTERS ON YOUR SIDE". THIS PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TEACHES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA TO PREVENT AND PREPARE FOR FIRES THROUGH TOPICS AND STRATEGIES PRESENTED THROUGH PERSON-TO-PERSON WORKSHOPS, PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. THE CFF HOLDS AN ANNUAL PUBLIC MEMORIAL CEREMONY TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF FALLEN FIRE FIGHTERS.
  2. $4.9 million spent. THE CFF ASSISTS VICTIMS AND FAMILIES DEVASTATED BY FIRE AND OTHER MAJOR DISASTERS BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, FIREFIGHTERS ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND BEST ABLE TO IDENTIFY UNMET NEEDS IN THEIR AREA AND HELP CARRY OUT PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE SERVICES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE ALARM. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
  3. $42,000 spent. THE CALIFORNIA FIRE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILDREN OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 May 1987.

    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 November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: California Community Foundation (Los Angeles, CA), EIN 95-3510055. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.