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Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation

EIN 81-0548082 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS OF WISCONSIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION IS TO CHAMPION COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION INITIATIVES; PROMOTE FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION; AND DELIVER MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO BURN SURVIVORS, FIRE FIGHTERS AND COMMUNITIES.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
13
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$60,126, executive director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    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. $358,190 spent. FIRE FIGHTER AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT: THE FOUNDATION'S VISION IS FOR ALL THOSE SERVED TO BE HEALTHY, SAFE, AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR LIVES AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO, WHILE THE FOUNDATION GRACIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, PARTNERS AND SPONSORS, THE FOUNDATION ALSO GIVES SMALL GRANTS, SPONSORSHIPS, DONATIONS AND MORE TO WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE STATE. WHEN THOSE WHO PROTECT AND SERVE ARE IN NEED, THE FOUNDATION WILL BE THERE. FIRE FIGHTERS WORK IN THE HEART OF EVERY COMMUNITY EVERY DAY TO KEEP THOSE THEY SERVE SAFE. WHEN WISCONSIN'S FIRE FIGHTERS ARE FACING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, PERSONAL TRAGEDY OR LOSS, OR OTHER CHALLENGES, IT IS OUR DUTY AND OUR HONOR TO HELP OUR BROTHERS, SISTERS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN NEED. FIRE FIGHTER SUPPORT PROGRAMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: DISASTER ASSISTANCE, WISCONSIN STATE FIRE FIGHTER'S MEMORIAL SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS OF WISCONSIN HONOR GUARD.
  2. $341,343 spent. BURN SURVIVOR: THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS BURN SURVIVORS OF ALL AGES AND IN ALL STAGES OF RECOVERY. THE FOUNDATION'S DEEP COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING BURN SURVIVORS GOES BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNINGS OF THE FOUNDATION. IN MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF WORK, THE FOUNDATION HAS DISCOVERED OVER AND OVER THAT THOSE WITH LIFE-ALTERING BURN INJURIES ARE VICTORS NOT VICTIMS. FROM BIKE RIDES AND GOLF INVITATIONS TO YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND A SIGNATURE SUMMER CAMP FOR BURN-INJURED YOUTH, THE FOUNDATION WORKS TIRELESSLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BURN CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE TO DELIVER MUCH NEEDED CONTINUATION OF CARE THAT HELP THOSE SERVED TO NOT JUST SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE.
  3. $193,427 spent. FIRE PREVENTION: PREVENTING FIRES AND BURNS THROUGH EDUCATION AND RISK MITIGATION. THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVEN THAT FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS WORK. OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF FIRE RELATED DEATHS IN WISCONSIN HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF AND DEATHS AMONG CHILDREN HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY MORE THAN 80%. STILL, SIGNIFICANT RISKS REMAIN. SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES, YET TOO MANY PEOPLE LIVE WITHOUT WORKING ALARMS. ESCAPE PLANS HELP PEOPLE PREPARE, YET BUSY FAMILIES OFTEN FAIL TO CHECK THIS ITEM OFF THE TO-DO LIST. THE SYNTHETIC MATERIALS THAT NOW MAKE UP HOMES AND FURNITURE MEAN A HOUSE CAN BE ENGULFED IN AS LITTLE AS THREE MINUTES, BUT PEOPLE TOO OFTEN THINK "IT WON'T HAPPEN TO US."

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 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 June 2002.

    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.