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Help a Mother Out

EIN 83-2001085 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Help a Mother Out works to improve baby and family well being by increasing access to diapers for families in need.We distribute diapers to families in need through a network of social service partners including voluntary home visiting programs, facilitated parent support groups, family resource centers, and public health departments. We also advocate for the inclusion of diapers in the social safety net.Our vision is a day when every baby has a healthy supply of diapers.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
6
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$150,835, executive dir.

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (5)
  1. $1.9 million spent. BAY AREA DIAPER BANKEstablished in 2009, Help a Mother Out's Bay Area Diaper Bank for community partners in the greater Bay Area region provides social workers with an innovative and vital way to meet the concrete needs of children, build trust with families, and offer additional support and services. Diapers are distributed to families in need exclusively through a network of community partners, including family resource centers, voluntary home visiting, facilitated parent support groups, homeless and foster children services, and public health departments.
  2. SAN FRANCISCO DIAPER BANKEstablished in 2015, Help a Mother Outs San Francisco Diaper Bank (SFDB) is the nation's first and only diaper public assistance program. We established the program in 2015 and operate it through a partnership with San Francisco Human Services Agency. Families eligible for CalWORKS, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal may receive up to 2 cases (full months supply) of diapers each month, for each eligible child ages 0-24 months.
  3. ELO BABY DIAPERSWe distribute our own private label diaper brand (est. 2019), ELO Baby. Our high-quality diapers are manufactured in a North American ISO certified state of the art facility, alongside numerous popular U.S. diaper brands. In addition to our suppliers rigorous internal quality controls, we use independent laboratory testing for extra peace of mind.
  4. CALIFORNIA DIAPER BANKHelp a Mother Outs California Diaper Bank provides one-time diaper grants for disaster relief as well as diapers for organizations that do not have a diaper bank in their area. This program allows us to make discretionary donations outside of our normal service area, when resources are available.
  5. In FY25 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) Help a Mother Out distributed 7.6 million diapers ($2.9 million retail value) diapers, and 2.4 million baby wipes ($71k retail value) to approximately 40,000 children. This was done through a network of 55 partner agencies participating in our three main programs. These programs are described in more detail below.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.