Fire Safe Moraga-Orinda
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Fire Safe Moraga-Orinda is to protect our community from wildfire by providing grant funding to property owners for the purpose of hazardous fuel removal.
- Income
- $70,431
- Spending
- $41,590
- Reserves
- 14.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $30,211 spent. FormationFire Safe Moraga-Orinda (FSMO) was incorporated in November 2023 via encouragement from the Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District (MOFD), to engage residents within the Fire District, to prepare and respond to potential wildfires in our communities within Contra Costa County, California of Town of Moraga, City of Orinda, and unincorporated Bollinger and Canyon. firesafemoragaorinda.org.In 4Q2024 FSMO combined with Moraga-Orinda Firewise Network (MOFN). MOFN is an all-volunteer consortium of Recognized NFPA Firewise USA Neighborhoods. We began in North Orinda in 2019 as the Orinda Firewise Council (OFC), via encouragement of MOFD for the same purpose of FSMO. In 2023 OFC expanded its service area to the entire Fire District and was renamed as Moraga-Orinda Firewise Network. moragaorindafirewisenetwork.org. 2023 AccomplishmentsFSMO completed all the necessary steps to become an accredited 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation including Board of Directors creation (recruited from Firewise Neighborhoods), putting in place procedures and policies such as bylaws, conflict of interest, accounting and procurement, and travel. The first FSMO Board of Directors Meeting was held on Nov 14, 2023. Additionally, FSMO received $2,000 starter funding grant from the Orinda Community Foundation.2024 AccomplishmentsFSMO initiated private fund-raising in December 2023 and received over $50,000 through end of 2024. These private funds were used to purchase liability insurance, selection of Werner Accounting Services, and business software including QuickBooks and proprietary FireAside software for managing Defensible Space projects. We also applied and received a second $2,500 starter funding grant from the Orinda Community Foundation. FSMO applied for Neighborhood Defensible Space Grants via the CAL FIRE Wildfire Defense and the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) 2024 State Fire Capacity (SFC) grant programs. FSMO was awarded a two-year $100,000 Residential Defensible Space Project Grant from CFSC 24 SFC (Project 464406) in September 2024. In 4Q2024 FSMO utilized private funds to finalize Residential Project selection criteria, create the FSMO website and project application process, and perform outreach to the community regarding availability of 50/50 match funding for these Residential Defensible Space Projects. 2025 AccomplishmentsFSMO accepted 25 Residential Defensible Space Project applications in 1Q2025; the FSMO Executive Director (ED) confirmed 13 Neighborhoods were eligible for this grant funding. The ED then consulted with the MOFD Fuels Mitigation Manager to prioritize the 13 applications based on board approved selection criteria and wildfire risk. Since the CFSC 24 SFC grant program is reimbursable after neighborhood work is complete, the FSMO Board approved six (6) applications but decided to move forward with three (3) applications due to uncertainty when grant funding reimbursement would be received.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 2023.
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.
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