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Fire Safe Santa Cruz County

EIN 81-4178571 · Boulder Creek, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak21 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF FIRE SAFE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY (FSSCC) IS TO HELP RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO THE EFFECTS OF WILDFIRE IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. FSSCC WILL COORDINATE FIRE PREPARDNESS ACTIONS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, UTILITIES, FIRE DISTRICTS, CAL FIRE AND LOCAL FIRE SAFE COUNCILS. FSSCC WILL IDENTITY AND ALLOCATE FUNDS TO THE HIGHEST FIRE SAFETY PRIORITIES, COORDINATE WORK ACTIVITIES, AND BEST POSITION THE COUNTY FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND APPLICATIONS.

Income
$18,377
Spending
$163,942
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
1
Volunteers
65

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

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 792% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 92% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (4)
  1. $36,938 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH:THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND PUT ON EDUCATION EVENTS.
  2. $48,615 spent. THE HOME IGNITION ZONE (HIZ) PROGRAM IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY (FSCSCC). UPON REQUEST, A VOLUNTEER HIZ ASSESSOR WILL VISIT THE SITE AND CONDUCT A GUIDED WALK THROUGH WITH THE RESIDENT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME FEEDBACK AND ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS SPECIFIC TO THE PROPERTY. THE ASSESSMENT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO HOME HARDENING AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE TO THE RESIDENT.
  3. $9,306 spent. "FIREWISE USA IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM HOSTED BY THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA).FIREWISE USA IS A FRAMEWORK THAT HELPS NEIGHBORS WORK TOGETHER IN A COMMUNITY TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK, THROUGH EDUCATION AND COLLABORATION. LOCAL FIRE SAFE COUNCILS IN THE SOUTH BAY AREA PROMOTE THE FIREWISE USA RECOGNITION PROCESS AS A WAY FOR COMMUNITIES IN THE WUI (WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE) TO REDUCE THEIR WILDLFIRE RISK. THIS INCLUDES EDUCATION PIECES FOR HELPING NEIGHBORS TO WORK TOGETHER ON DEFENSIBLE SPACE, HOME HARDENING, EVACUATION PLANNING AND MORE. "
  4. $44,546 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 March 2017.

    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.