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Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department

EIN 81-0502018 · Big Sandy, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 26% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION, AMBULANCE SERVICES, AND MUTUAL AID TO RURAL COMMUNITIES LOCATED IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. THE VFD IS THE FIRST RESPONDER FOR THESE OPERATIONS, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 2,000 RESIDENTS IN 1,400 SQUARE MILE AREA.

Income
$184,780
Spending
$195,401
Spent on programs
26%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    26% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • 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

    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.

  • 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. $31,044 spent. RENDER MUTUAL AID TO FIRE DISTRICTS AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION TO AREA RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS CONCERNS WHOSE LIVES AND PROPERTY ARE THREATENED BY WILDFIRES AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS.
  2. $10,110 spent. IN AN AREA AS LARGE AS NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA, IT IS COMMON FOR SEVERAL FIRE DISTRICTS TO POOL RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT TO CONFRONT MEDIAL AND RESCUE EMERGENCIES. THE BIG SANDY VFD PROVIDES MUTUAL AID WHENEVER CALLED UPON, AND RECEIVES LIKE-KIND SERVICES IN RETURN.
  3. $9,234 spent. TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES BY PROVIDING EMERGENCY MEDIAL TECHNICIANS (EMT) PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING AMBULANCE VEHICLES, TO AREA EMT AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. AMBULANCE SERVICES ALSO INCLUDES TRANSPORT SERVICES FROM ONE MEDICAL FACILITY TO ANOTHER SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT SUCH ASSISTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.