Giving the Basics Inc
Giving the Basics Inc is a public charity based in Kansas City, Kansas. Founded in 2011, it provides hygiene and household essentials that are not covered by government assistance programs, distributing products through approved partner organizations.
Giving the Basics Inc at a glance
In short: Giving the Basics Inc gave $7.9M across 85 grants in 2025 (avg $93K), top state Ohio. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,943,549
- +57.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 85
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $93,454
- +57.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,663
- Total assets
- $8,463,124
- +60.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (36 of 85, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Giving the Basics Inc
- How to Apply
-
The organization’s website describes registration for U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations seeking hygiene products, not an application for cash grants. Approved organizations are responsible for distributing the products to people in need. The organization says it meets to approve new product-distribution locations in January and July.
- Contact
Mailing address: 927 S 7Th Street, Kansas City, KS 66105
Phone: (913) 387-4375
Website: https://givingthebasics.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Giving the Basics Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Matthew 25 Ministries ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $6.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
369 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 296 grants of 369 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Giving the Basics is based in Kansas City, Kansas. Its 2025 filing describes product distribution in the greater Kansas City metro area, across rural Kansas schools, and through national organization partners. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (26%), Missouri (19%), Michigan (18%), Kansas (14%), and Illinois (11%). The listed grants also included recipients in Texas and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 85 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Giving the Basics Inc open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 36 of 85 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $75K; repeat grants $107K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $18K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $7.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 85 grants totaling $7.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 25 Ministries Blue Ash, OH | Distribution to the Needy | $2,042,405 |
| Forgotten Harvest Oak Park, MI | Distribution to the Needy | $1,441,401 |
| Midwest Food Bank Normal, IL | Distribution to the Needy | $908,661 |
| El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank El Paso, TX | Distribution to the Needy | $830,471 |
| KS Unregistered Districts Topeka, KS | Distribution to the Needy | $319,480 |
| Cross-Lines Kansas City, KS | Distribution to the Needy | $191,562 |
| Catholic Charities of Northeast KS Kansas City, KS | Distribution to the Needy | $123,131 |
| Food Bank of the Rockies Denver, CO | Distribution to the Needy | $111,466 |
| Independence School District Independence, MO | Distribution to the Needy | $97,325 |
| Catholic Charities KCSJ Kansas City, MO | Distribution to the Needy | $72,882 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,463,124 | $14,201,502 | $10,948,868 | $7,943,549 | 85 | $93,236 |
| 2024 | $5,264,834 | $6,838,930 | $6,951,232 | $5,034,574 | 85 | $98,643 |
| 2023 | $5,413,409 | $5,923,867 | $5,258,072 | $3,715,520 | 77 | $69,981 |
| 2022 | $4,564,567 | $3,559,859 | $3,180,074 | $2,203,213 | 73 | $7,817 |
| 2021 | $4,181,143 | $2,942,407 | $2,806,376 | $1,526,988 | 49 | $1,886 |
| 2020 | $4,149,028 | $3,082,150 | $3,145,219 | $1,436,618 | 49 | $2,800 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Giving the Basics says its mission is to provide necessities of life not covered by government assistance, including laundry soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, and other personal care hygiene products. Its product list also includes items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, cleaning supplies, tissues, and incontinence products.
The organization’s 2025 filing says it distributed products through 251 food pantries, senior centers, and homeless shelters; 519 schools; and 23 police divisions in the greater Kansas City metro area, as well as 584 rural Kansas schools. It also reported 27 registered national organization partners serving an additional 1,129 locations.
Among organizations receiving its 2025 grants, Matthew 25 Ministries describes its mission as providing food, clean water, clothing, shelter, medical care, and humanitarian supplies to people in need. Forgotten Harvest says it works to relieve hunger in metro Detroit and prevent nutritious food waste. Food Bank of the Rockies says it nourishes people facing food insecurity. Other grantees include organizations whose stated missions address hospitality and basic needs, poverty, homelessness, and children and families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Giving the Basics reported 85 grants totaling $7,943,549. Grant amounts ranged from $5,147 to $2,042,405, with a median of $19,663. The listed grant purposes were “distribution to the needy.”
Its largest listed grants included $2,042,405 to Matthew 25 Ministries, $1,441,401 to Forgotten Harvest, $908,661 to Midwest Food Bank, $830,471 to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, and $319,480 to KS Unregistered Districts. Other listed recipients included Cross-Lines ($191,562), Catholic Charities of Northeast KS ($123,131), and Food Bank of the Rockies ($111,466).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Teresa Hamilton as president and CEO; Stacey Howe as chairman; and Ron Edelman, Heath Hoobing, Chris Hutchings, Brian Leitner, Kristi Macaluso, Bill Marshall, Andrew Miller, and Jack Montgomery as directors. Jack Montgomery’s term began in July 2025.
Giving the Basics Inc is led by Teresa Hamilton, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Teresa Hamilton
President & CEO
President CEO → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$62K (2020) → $30K (2025)
Chandra Goebel
Co-Executive Director
CFO → Co-Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$78K (2022) → $133K (2025)
Stacey Howe
Chairman
Director → Vice Chariman, 2023
Vice Chariman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Karr
Director of Growth
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$120K (2023) → $167K (2025)
Nick Hardesty
Development Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$106K (2024) → $118K (2025)
Anna Marie Vogel
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Leitner
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heath Hoobing
Director
Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Macaluso
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ron Edelman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Marshall
Director
Director → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Miller
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Hutchings
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jake Waldenmeyer
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack Montgomery
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erik Acinger
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$124K (2025)
Former officers (11)
- Former: Peter Hardy (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeffery Anderson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Nick Warren (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Newton (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kelley Scharosch (2020–2021) — CFO
- Former: Sean Wheeler (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Brandon Henry (2020) — Director
- Former: Kim Newton (2020) — Director
- Former: Scott Fillmore (2020) — Chairman
- Former: Shelly Koehler (2020) — Director
- Former: Thomas Charles (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $167K, to Matt Karr (Director of Growth). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Giving the Basics Inc
How much does Giving the Basics Inc give each year?
Giving the Basics Inc gave $7.9M across 85 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.0M across 85 grants.
What is Giving the Basics Inc's typical grant size?
Giving the Basics Inc's median grant in 2025 was $19,663, and its average grant was $93,454, across 85 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Giving the Basics Inc that year got $75K on average.
Where does Giving the Basics Inc give grants?
Giving the Basics Inc's top state is Ohio, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Missouri (19%) and Michigan (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (44 grants), Kansas City, KS (8 grants), Independence, MO (3 grants) and Overland Park, KS (3 grants).
Does Giving the Basics Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 85 grants with a stated purpose on Giving the Basics Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Distribution to the Needy" (85 grants).
Who are Giving the Basics Inc's largest grantees?
Giving the Basics Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Matthew 25 Ministries ($2,042,405), Forgotten Harvest ($1,441,401) and Midwest Food Bank ($908,661), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Giving the Basics Inc?
Giving the Basics Inc reported $8.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.2M.
What does Giving the Basics Inc fund?
Giving the Basics says its mission is to provide necessities of life not covered by government assistance, including laundry soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, and other personal care hygiene products. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Giving the Basics Inc?
The organization’s website describes registration for U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations seeking hygiene products, not an application for cash grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Giving the Basics Inc's EIN?
Giving the Basics Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3069975. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 2, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Giving the Basics Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/giving-the-basics-inc-morg_4aae91c02c8444909a697846d94678f4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_453069975_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Giving the Basics Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/giving-the-basics-inc-morg_4aae91c02c8444909a697846d94678f4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Giving the Basics Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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