Where Your Money Goes
Not one dollar of your donation becomes a paycheck — every member of this department is a volunteer. What your gift does buy is the equipment that lets us walk into the worst day of somebody's life and do something about it.
A note on monthly giving: a recurring $10 a month is worth more to us than a one-time $100. It lets us plan a budget, finance a truck payment, and know what we can commit to next year.
Three Easy Ways
Fastest and easiest. Use a debit card, credit card, or bank transfer, and choose one-time or monthly. You'll get an emailed receipt right away.
Processed securely by Zeffy. We never see or store your card number — and because Zeffy charges nonprofits nothing, 100% of your gift reaches the department.
Prefer paper? So do a lot of our best supporters. Make checks payable to Claypool Volunteer Fire Department and mail to:
Claypool Volunteer Fire Dept.
101 N Main St
Claypool, IN 46510
Want a receipt for taxes? Write your return address on the envelope and we'll mail one back.
Stop by the station on North Main and hand it to whoever's there. Come to a fundraiser and eat well while you're at it. Or catch us at the boot drive — we'll be the ones standing in the road holding a boot.
Beyond a One-Time Gift
Some of the most meaningful support we've received didn't come from a donation form. If any of these fit your situation, we'd be glad to talk it through.
Talk to UsStraight Answers
Yes. The Claypool Volunteer Fire Department is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Our tax ID (EIN) is 99-3710835.
We provide a written acknowledgement for any gift on request, and automatically for gifts of $250 or more — the IRS requires you to have one in hand for donations at that level.
We're firefighters, not accountants. For advice about your specific situation, please check with your tax preparer.
We receive some public funding, and we're grateful for it. But it does not cover everything a modern fire and rescue service needs — especially large equipment purchases, apparatus replacement, and the rising cost of certified training. Donations and fundraisers cover the difference.
Spending is approved by the department's officers and membership. We're a small organization in a small town — if you ever want to know what your donation bought, ask us. We'll tell you, and we'll probably show you.
Often, yes — but please call first. Firefighting equipment has to meet current NFPA standards and be within its service life, so we can't accept used gear. Things we can almost always use: bottled water, coolers, non-perishables for fundraisers, printing services, and shop supplies.
Be careful here. Fire department fundraising scams are common, and they target small towns like ours. We do not use outside telemarketing companies, and we will never pressure you, demand payment by gift card or wire transfer, or ask for your card number over an unsolicited call.
If you're not sure whether a solicitation is genuinely from us, hang up and call Chief Hurley directly at (574) 527-0743. We won't be offended — we'd rather you check.
No. We don't sell, rent, or trade donor information to anyone. We use your contact details to send a receipt and, if you'd like, to let you know about upcoming fundraisers. Tell us to stop and we will.
Claypool has taken care of its fire department for over 130 years. Every generation has chipped in, passed the boot, bought a raffle ticket, and made sure the trucks rolled when the tones dropped. Thanks for taking your turn.
