International Association of Wildland Fire
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO BE AN ACKNOWLEDGED RESOURCE FOR LOCAL TO GLOBAL SCALE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, NETWORKING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS DEPENDED ON BY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND FIRE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $577,164
- Spending
- $642,096
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $33,400, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 253% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 25939 of 939 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (2)
- 2 University Scholarships in the amount of 3,000 each, were granted from member contributions. One was given to Javier Freire, PhD Candidate Environmental Health Science of University of CA, Berkeley towards his research on the effects of environmental conditions, particularly extreme heat and air pollution, on the health of wildland firefighters in Chile. The second was granted to Shyloh van Delft, MSc Student, Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Alberta in Partneship with Yukon University, towards her research exploring how wildfire mitigation strategies affect wildlife and ecosystems in the Yukons boreal forest.
- $550,119 spent. 402 participants attended the18th International Fire Safety Summit and 7th Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference held October 20-23. 2025 in Alberta, Calgary, Canada. The Joint Conference brought together wildland fire management agencies, Indigenous knowledge holders and experts, scientists, trainers and other collaborators from around the world. The event focused on wildland fire management, science, and knowledge sharing through the lens of safety, protection, human behavior and engagement.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: International Association of Fire Fighters (Washington, DC), EIN 53-0088290. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.