Watertown Fire Department Inc
Watertown Fire Department Inc maintains strong financial health with growing assets and zero liabilities.
EIN: 202486049 · Watertown, CT · NTEE: M24 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Watertown Fire Department Inc Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Watertown Fire Department Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Watertown Fire Department Inc
Watertown Fire Department Inc (EIN: 202486049) is a nonprofit organization based in Watertown, CT, classified under NTEE code M24. The organization reported total revenue of $156K and total assets of $211K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Watertown Fire Department Inc'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 Watertown Fire Department Inc with a Mission Score of 95 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: 5%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Watertown Fire Department Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating a volunteer leadership structure. This is highly favorable, as all funds can be directed towards the organization's mission rather than administrative salaries.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Watertown Fire Department Inc:
- Consistent reporting of zero liabilities across all filings, indicating strong financial health.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a volunteer-driven model and high efficiency.
- Steady growth in assets over the past decade, from $101,091 in 2014 to $192,434 in 2023.
- Revenues generally exceed or closely match expenses, demonstrating sound financial management.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, indicating good transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Watertown Fire Department Inc
Is Watertown Fire Department Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Watertown Fire Department Inc (EIN: 202486049) appears legitimate. Mission Score: 95/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Watertown Fire Department Inc spend its money?
Watertown Fire Department Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Watertown Fire Department Inc tax-deductible?
Watertown Fire Department Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 202486049). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Watertown Fire Department Inc a good charity?
Based on the IRS 990 data, Watertown Fire Department Inc appears to be a very good charity. It demonstrates strong financial health, consistent asset growth, zero liabilities, and a volunteer leadership structure with no reported officer compensation, meaning funds are highly likely to be directed to its mission.
How does Watertown Fire Department Inc manage its finances?
The organization manages its finances responsibly, consistently operating with revenues covering expenses and accumulating assets. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $174,471 against expenses of $144,249, showing a surplus. The consistent reporting of zero liabilities across all filings highlights excellent financial stewardship.
What is the trend in assets for Watertown Fire Department Inc?
Assets for Watertown Fire Department Inc have shown a consistent upward trend, increasing from $101,091 in 2014 to $192,434 in 2023, indicating healthy financial growth and resource accumulation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Watertown Fire Department Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Watertown Fire Department Inc's revenue has declined by 11.8%, moving from $198K to $174K. Total assets increased by 40.6% over the same period, from $137K to $192K. Total functional expenses fell by 9.5%, from $159K to $144K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Watertown Fire Department Inc reported a surplus of $30K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $174K | $144K | $192K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $131K | $136K | $164K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $166K | $165K | $175K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $120K | $104K | $153K | $0 | — | — |
| 2019 | $126K | $131K | $126K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $152K | $132K | $119K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $139K | $136K | $100K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $152K | $148K | $96K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $114K | $124K | $91K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $114K | $135K | $101K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $125K | $147K | $122K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $134K | $128K | $143K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $198K | $159K | $137K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $174K, expenses of $144K, and assets of $192K (revenue +33.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $131K, expenses of $136K, and assets of $164K (revenue -21.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $166K, expenses of $165K, and assets of $175K (revenue +38.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $120K, expenses of $104K, and assets of $153K (revenue -4.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $126K, expenses of $131K, and assets of $126K (revenue -16.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $152K, expenses of $132K, and assets of $119K (revenue +8.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $139K, expenses of $136K, and assets of $100K (revenue -8.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $152K, expenses of $148K, and assets of $96K (revenue +33.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $114K, expenses of $124K, and assets of $91K (revenue +0.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $114K, expenses of $135K, and assets of $101K (revenue -9.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $125K, expenses of $147K, and assets of $122K (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $134K, expenses of $128K, and assets of $143K (revenue -32.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $198K, expenses of $159K, and assets of $137K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Watertown Fire Department Inc 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.