Your Donation, Verified: How the Northern Sonoma County Fire Foundation Uses Candid to Earn Your Trust

When you open your wallet for a cause you believe in, you deserve to know exactly where your money goes. At the Northern Sonoma County Fire Foundation, the nonprofit behind Wine Country to the Rescue, we believe that trust isn't just something we ask for. It's something we earn, and something we prove.

That's why we've partnered with Candid (formerly GuideStar) to verify, validate, and publicly document our operations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

What Is Candid — and Why Does It Matter?

Candid is the gold standard for nonprofit transparency in the United States. Formed through the merger of GuideStar and the Foundation Center, Candid maintains a database of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized tax-exempt organizations. Its mission is simple: give donors the information they need to give wisely.

At the heart of Candid's verification system is the Seal of Transparency — a tiered rating (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum) that tells donors at a glance how forthcoming a nonprofit is about its mission, finances, leadership, and impact. Earning these seals isn't automatic. Organizations must actively claim their profile and provide verified, up-to-date information directly to Candid.

For donors, that seal is a shortcut to confidence. For us, it's a commitment.

Who We Are: The Northern Sonoma County Fire Foundation

The Northern Sonoma County Fire Foundation (Federal Tax ID: 23-7054738) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that powers Wine Country to the Rescue. Every dollar raised through our annual charity dinner, auction, and dance at Trentadue Winery flows through the Foundation and back into the Northern Sonoma County communities that need it most.

Our funded programs include:

• Emergency preparedness — equipping residents with tools and knowledge to stay safe during disasters

• Vegetation management — reducing wildfire risk and protecting the health of our local ecosystems

• Neighborhood disaster planning — supporting community-based initiatives like COPE (Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies)

• Firefighter support — funding equipment, training, and wellness programs for the first responders who protect us

These aren't abstract line items. They're tangible investments in the safety of every family in Northern Sonoma County.

This Candid "Silver Transparency Widget" is "Live".

Meaning its always updated and links back to Candid.

Transparency Is Not Optional — It's Our Obligation

We're a community-rooted organization. Our donors aren't faceless check-writers — they're our neighbors, the local businesses that sponsor our event, and the wine country families who show up year after year because they believe in what we do.

That relationship carries a responsibility. We take it seriously.

By maintaining our verified profile on Candid, we ensure that:

• Our IRS Form 990 filings are publicly accessible, giving anyone a clear view of our revenues, expenses, and financial health

• Our mission and program descriptions are documented and current

• Our organizational leadership and governance practices are on record

• Donors can confirm our tax-exempt status before giving — no guesswork required

Candid's data is derived from validated sources — including IRS filings and direct reporting — and is verified and updated regularly. When you look us up on Candid, you're not just seeing what we say about ourselves. You're seeing what we've proven.

Trust your donations with our Foundation but Verify Us Yourself

We encourage every prospective donor to do their homework. Here's how:

1. Visit candid.org or guidestar.org

2. Search for "Northern Sonoma County Fire Foundation" or enter our Federal Tax ID: 23-7054738

3. Review our profile, financials, and Seal of Transparency rating

You can also find us at northernsonomacountyfirefoundation.com, where our nonprofit information is clearly listed.

Our Foundation's Promise to You

Wine Country to the Rescue has grown from a small local fundraiser into one of Sonoma County's most beloved charity events — and we haven't lost sight of why that happened. It's because this community trusts us.

We don't take that lightly. We verify our financials. We file our 990s. We maintain our Candid profile. And we invite you to check every single one of those things before you donate. Trust your donations with our Foundation, because a donation made with confidence is a donation that truly makes a difference.