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Simply the Basics

EIN 81-1369151 · Benicia, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SIMPLY THE BASICS (THE "CORPORATION") IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY WITH BASIC NECESSITIES TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THE TOOLS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHANGES AND LIFT THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY. UNDER THE "BASIC NEEDS" APPROACH TO ALLEVIATING POVERTY, THE CORE NEEDS OF ANY PERSON, SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER, MUST BE SATISFIED IN ORDER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO ACHIEVE SELF-ACTUALIZATION, SOBRIETY AND JOB SECURITY. THE CORPORATION SEEKS TO REFINE THIS CONCEPT TO INCORPORATE THE ADDITIONAL NEEDS OF HEALTH, HYGIENE AND EDUCATION. ACCORDINGLY, THE CORPORATION SEEKS TO REMOVE FUNDAMENTAL BARRIERS TO INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS BY PROVIDING BASIC NECESSITIES, AND THUS, GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO SURVIVE, BUT ALSO THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$443,088
Spending
$498,389
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
2,800
Highest pay
$104,638, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 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 (3)
  1. $424,147 spent. HYGIENE BANK PROGRAM: SIMPLY THE BASICS HAS A GOAL TO MAKE HYGIENE MORE EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. THE PURPOSE OF THE "HYGIENE BANK" IS TO ENSURE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH LIMITED INCOME OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR MOST BASIC NEEDS. AS SUCH, SIMPLY THE BASICS PROVIDES ONGOING HYGIENE SUPPLIES THROUGH A MYRIAD OF METHODS INCLUDING DIRECT TO RECIPIENT CARE FOR SUSTAINED HEALTH AND WELLNESS. HYGIENE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE INTIMATELY INTERWOVEN, AND POOR HYGIENE IS AN INEVITABLE RESULT OF HOMELESSNESS. ESTABLISHING PROPER HYGIENE IS KEY TO A SENSE OF SELF AND BETTER HEALTH. SIMPLY THE BASICS PROVIDES BASIC HYGIENE TO PROGRAMS AND PEOPLE, THUS BUILDING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY AND STRONGER HOMELESS PROGRAMS OVERALL.
  2. HYGIENE LOCATOR PROGRAM: THE SIMPLY THE BASICS HYGIENE LOCATOR IS AN ONLINE PLATFORM THAT HOSTS NETWORK OF HYGIENE SERVICES ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE IN NEED WITH LOCAL HYGIENE SERVICES MAKING FINDING WHAT THEY NEED MOST MORE EQUITABLY AND EFFICIENTLY. A PERSON IN NEED OF HYGIENE, OR LOOKING TO DONATE HYGIENE, IS ABLE TO SEARCH BY LOCATION, SERVICE AREA, NEEDS, LANGUAGE, AND MORE TO FIND THE SERVICE SITE THAT WILL MOST EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY MEET THEIR NEEDS.
  3. HYGIENE BANK ASSOCIATION (HBA)PROGRAM: ESTABLISHED IN 2022, THE SIMPLY THE BASICS HYGIENE BANK ASSOCIATION IS THE FIRST EVER ALLIANCE OF NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY HYGIENE SERVICES TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE GOALS OF IMPROVING AND INCREASING ACCESS TO HYGIENE! THE GOALS OF THE HYGIENE BANK ASSOCIATION ARE TWOFOLD: TO AMPLIFY THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF HYGIENE ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION, ADVOCATING AS A COMMUNITY, SHARING DATA AND RESOURCES, AND LAUNCHING JOINT CAMPAIGNS. TO ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES AND OPERATIONS OF ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING HYGIENE SERVICES THROUGH ESTABLISHED QUALITY CONTROL STANDARDS, VIRTUAL TRAININGS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND PEER TO PEER LEARNING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.