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Helpberkeley Inc

EIN 85-2610979 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HelpBerkeley delivers affordable, free, and subsidized meals and groceries to seniors and others vulnerable to COVID-19 in Berkeley and several neighboring cities. It also provides wellness, nutrition, social and other services to underserved businesses and communities in the City of Berkeley and in other communities. In 2025 HelpBerkeley added fire safety and resiliency as an area of focus.

Income
$77,485
Spending
$41,003
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
0
Volunteers
175

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $39,578 spent. Funded Meals: In 2025, HelpBerkeley procured and home-delivered more than 16,200 free meals or meal equivalents, in the form of groceries or of ready-made meals, for recipients who could not afford them, in Berkeley and neighboring communities. We have a network of 10+ non-profit organizations with whom we work to identify recipients.
  2. $525 spent. HB.Org": In 2025 HB.org began transitioning to a focus on fire safety and resiliency due to the extreme fire danger in parts of Berkeley. We published a website called BerkeleyFirewise.org. We organized an April 25 volunteer brush clearing day with members of local FireWise groups and the University of California Berkeley "Berkeley Project" volunteers. We received as fiscal sponsors two UC Berkeley grants for the purpose of helping residents in need to clear flammable plants and debris per Berkeley's new Ember regulation which requires removal of flammable materials from the first five feet around a house.
  3. $900 spent. FUD: (For Unlimited Diabetics): HelpBerkeley operates a national diabetes forum, appearing as the #2 or #3 forum in the country when looking at google search presence. This service is more critical than ever as one of the leading diabetes forums, TU Diabetes, ceased operations in 2025, and we saw increase membership at FUD.
  4. Support for Cost Efficient Charities: The Board agreed in December 2024 that we would start a new program to support other cost efficient charities in Berkeley and other places as deemed necessary and which are consistent with our Mission, possibly for a small administrative fee. There were no program costs or results for 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 2020.

    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.