Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept
Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept shows recent revenue growth and no executive compensation, but assets have significantly declined from historical highs.
EIN: 161741239 · Ashville, AL · NTEE: M24 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept
Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept (EIN: 161741239) is a nonprofit organization based in Ashville, AL, classified under NTEE code M24. The organization reported total revenue of $126K and total assets of $112K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its leadership is entirely volunteer-based, which is highly commendable for a nonprofit of its size.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant decrease in assets from over $600,000 in 2018 to $85,422 in 2023 without clear explanation.
- Sudden increase in liabilities to $40,883 in 2023 after several years of reporting zero liabilities.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating volunteer leadership.
- Revenue consistently exceeding expenses in recent years (e.g., $122,575 revenue vs. $78,036 expenses in 2023).
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, demonstrating transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept
Is Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept (EIN: 161741239) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept spend its money?
Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept tax-deductible?
Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 161741239). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Why did the organization's assets decrease from over $600,000 in 2018 to $85,422 in 2023?
The filings do not provide specific details for this significant asset reduction. It could be due to depreciation of equipment, sale of assets, or other financial restructuring not explicitly detailed in the summary data.
What caused the sudden increase in liabilities to $40,883 in 2023 after several years of reporting zero?
The IRS 990 summary data does not specify the nature of these liabilities. It could represent new debt, accounts payable, or other obligations incurred in the most recent fiscal year.
Is the Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept financially stable given the asset and liability changes?
While the recent increase in liabilities and decrease in assets warrant attention, the organization's revenue ($122,575) significantly exceeded its expenses ($78,036) in 2023, suggesting operational stability in the short term. Further investigation into the nature of the liabilities and asset changes would provide a more complete picture of long-term stability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept's revenue has grown by 0.8%, moving from $122K to $123K. Total assets decreased by 88.6% over the same period, from $752K to $85K. Total functional expenses rose by 47.8%, from $53K to $78K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept reported a surplus of $45K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $41K in liabilities against $85K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 47.9%), resulting in net assets of $45K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $123K | $78K | $85K | $41K | — | — |
| 2022 | $89K | $86K | $89K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $77K | $53K | $86K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $78K | $62K | $621K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $66K | $66K | $604K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $65K | $36K | $604K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $66K | $66K | $575K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $82K | $126K | $575K | $98K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $193K | $221K | $606K | $191K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $377K | $163K | $560K | $268K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $122K | $53K | $752K | $132K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $123K, expenses of $78K, and assets of $85K (revenue +37.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $89K, expenses of $86K, and assets of $89K (revenue +15.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $77K, expenses of $53K, and assets of $86K (revenue -1.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $78K, expenses of $62K, and assets of $621K (revenue +19.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $66K, expenses of $66K, and assets of $604K (revenue +1.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $65K, expenses of $36K, and assets of $604K (revenue -2.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $66K, expenses of $66K, and assets of $575K (revenue -18.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $82K, expenses of $126K, and assets of $575K (revenue -57.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $193K, expenses of $221K, and assets of $606K (revenue -48.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $377K, expenses of $163K, and assets of $560K (revenue +210.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $122K, expenses of $53K, and assets of $752K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Dept is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.