Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Monterey Fire Safe Council Inc

EIN 75-2980732 · Monterey, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To provide education, implement and fund projects in accordance with National and California Fire Plans, mobilize citizens and agencies to reduce losses from wildfires, exchange information and foster fire prevention and fire safety within the County of Monterey.

Income
$150,115
Spending
$144,595
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%

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

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
  1. $134,680 spent. Program Service Accomplishments: The California Fire Safe Council with funding through the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) supported a $175,000 County Coordinator program. The objective of the CAL FIRE County Coordinator Statewide Grant program is to educate, encourage, and develop county-wide collaboration and coordination among various wildfire mitigation groups. Counties received a one-time grant of $175,000 to cover administrative costs relevant to county-wide coordination efforts, including but not limited to the salary, support, and administrative costs for a designated County Coordinator. This project closed in December 2024. Monterey Peninsula Foundation awarded FSCMC $15,000 in 2024. FSCMC's focus was on taking preventative measures and implementing strategies to reduce the risk of wildfires before they occur. This is being achieved by educating communities about fire safety, evacuation plans, and defensible space around properties. This Foundation grant will be completed in June 2025. The Community Foundation for Monterey County awarded FSCMC $6,000 in 2024. This project supports the FSCMC with Organizational and Administrative Development to enhancement awareness, and promote active participation within the Firewise USA communities. FSCMC used this grant not only for emergency preparedness and response, but also to establish best practices for wildfire preparedness, defensible space, home hardening hints, neighbors helping neighbors assistance projects and promoting collaboration within the communities. This project will close in December 2025. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) made the final payment in 2024 ($45,000) on the 2023 Roadside Chipping Grant which had been awarded in 2023 and completed in 2023, with the final payment to a contractor in 2024. This project was to support opening safer ingress/egress for community residents to access both private and public roads within the PG&E Right of Way. This project was supported by the local fire authority, Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District and services approximately 995 residents in the adjacent communities.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 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 2003.

    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.