Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Camp Fire

EIN 91-0600598 · Bellingham, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 159 cents.

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

What it says it does

BUILD CARING, CONFIDENT YOUTH AND FUTURE LEADERS.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
69
Volunteers
292
Highest pay
$92,650, 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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% 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 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 159 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $939,606 spent. CAMPS AND OUTDOOR EDUCATIONRESIDENT CAMPERS LEARN HOW TO INTERACT AND BECOME PART OF A COMMUNITY BY PLANNING THEIR OWN PROGRAM AT THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL. THEY BUILD SELF ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE WITH CHALLENGE ACTIVITIES. ARCHERY, CLIMBING WALLS, CANOES, OUTDOOR LIVING, AND MUCH MORE. YOUTH MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND HAVE THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES! RESIDENT/OVERNIGHT CAMPERS ENTERING 1ST THROUGH 12TH GRADE ATTEND ONE AND A HALF WEEK THEMED OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS. THEY TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD SELF WORTH, CONFIDENCE, AND INDIVIDUAL GROWTH WHILE INCORPORATING CAMP KIRBY'S EXTRAORDINARY NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. FULL WEEK DAY CAMPS: YOUTH ENJOY THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF CAMP KIRBY AND ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ARCHERY, CRAFTS, OUTDOOR COOKING, AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT WITH NATURE. IMAGINATIONS ARE IGNITED THROUGH THESE FOUR DAY THEMED ADVENTURES OFFERED TO YOUTH ENTERING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 6TH GRADE.OUTDOOR EDUCATION: YOUTH THRIVE IN EXCITING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH HANDS-ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THE POWER OF NATURE AWAKENS A CHILD'S SENSES, CURIOSITY, AND DESIRE TO LEARN. THIS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM SHARED WITH TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS INFLUENCES STUDENTS LIVES AND MAKES A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.SINGLE-DAY THEMED DAY CAMP: YOUTH LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS AND PARTICIPATE IN NEW ADVENTURES, WHILE SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR PEERS IN A SAFE AND ENERGIZING ENVIRONMENT. CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES ARE HELD AT CAMP KIRBY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR ON OUT OF SCHOOL DAYS. ALUMNI AND FAMILY CAMP WEEKENDS: ALLOW FAMILIES AND CAMP KIRBY ALUMNI TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF CAMP THROUGH TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ARTS AND CRAFTS AND ARCHERY, WHILE ALSO ALLOWING THEM UNSTRUCTURED TIME TO ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
  2. TEEN SERVICE AND LEADERSHIPTEENS ARE EMPOWERED TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND PREPARE FOR WHEREVER THEIR FUTURE WILL TAKE THEM. TEEN PROGRAMS OFFER ADVANCED LEADERSHIP AND SKILL-BUILDING, AND ARE GREAT FOR INDIVIDUALS, CLUBS, AND GROUPS. COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING (CIT) TEENS ENTERING 11TH/12TH GRADE CAN APPLY FOR POSITIONS IN THE LEARNING-INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AT CAMP KIRBY'S OVERNIGHT CAMP. THEY PARTICIPATE IN A SIX-WEEK PROGRAM SPREAD OVER TWO SUMMERS GEARED TOWARD PREPARING THEM FOR FUTURE POSITIONS ON CAMP KIRBY STAFF THROUGH MENTORING, AND SKILL BUILDING.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 March 1958.

    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.