The Basic Fund
The Basic Fund is a privately funded program whose mission is to advance educational equity for low-income families by helping offset the cost of tuition at private schools in the bay area.
The Basic Fund at a glance
- Total assets
- $24,161,414
- +10.6% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $12,189,550
- -21.8% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $498,072
- -29.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $9,964,545
- -42.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Basic Fund
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Basic Fund
Who The Basic Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $7.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Basic Fund Scholarship Foundation Oakland, CA | General Support | $7,428,798 |
Ready to take the next step with The Basic Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,161,414 | $12,189,550 | $9,964,545 | — | — | $498,072 |
| 2024 | $21,853,396 | $15,579,251 | $17,216,390 | $7,428,798 | 1 | $705,780 |
| 2023 | $23,129,936 | $8,573,960 | $9,630,729 | — | — | $537,581 |
| 2022 | $23,502,708 | $9,421,973 | $9,556,741 | — | — | $49,841 |
| 2021 | $23,987,500 | $9,637,782 | $9,066,159 | — | — | $204,861 |
| 2020 | $23,234,810 | $9,507,333 | $7,478,424 | — | — | $519,207 |
About The Basic Fund
Based on IRS filings
The Basic Fund is a public charity focused on Education, based in Oakland, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $24.2M in total assets. Net investment income was $498K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Basic Fund is led by Rachel Elginsmith, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 2 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rachel Elginsmith
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$168K (2020) → $200K (2025)
Brian Griggs
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James H. Herbert II
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Bryant
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric A. Schwartz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John E. Kerrigan Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Romo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael McCarthy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rupert H. Johnson Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Warren E. Ned Spieker Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William T. Ring
Director
Vice President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jono Grayson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronnie Lott
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Ranzetta
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C. Kern Jr.
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jurgen Huck
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurel Browman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ted Kruttschnitt
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Reed
Chief Advancement Officer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$206K (2025)
Jeremy Peters
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Couch
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janisha Sabnani
Deputy General Counsel
Director → Deputy General Counsel, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Jeffrey G. Edwards (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Richard C. Barker (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Christine Weiss (2021–2024) — Chief Advancement Officer
- Former: Marissa Mar (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Edward Jamieson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Edward McDermott (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: J. William Morris III (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: James P. Conn (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kenneth T. Derr (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael W. Wilsey (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard Chow (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard J. Bertero (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert G. Barrett (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Stephen L. Millham (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Steven S. Klein (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Theodore Kruttschnitt (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Timothy Ranzetta (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John Watson (2022) — Director
- Former: Sonya Mughal (2022) — 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 $206K, to Laura Reed (Chief Advancement Officer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Basic Fund
How large is The Basic Fund?
The Basic Fund reported $24.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.2M.
What is The Basic Fund?
The Basic Fund is a public charity focused on Education, based in Oakland, CA. It holds $24.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Basic Fund operate?
The Basic Fund has awarded grants in California.
What is The Basic Fund's EIN?
The Basic Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3290699. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Basic Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in California
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
The California Endowment
Los Angeles, CA
The California Endowment funds nonprofit, government, and eligible faith-based organizations working to advance health and racial equity, strengthen community power, and improve health systems and communities, primarily in California. Its 2024 median grant was $100,000, and funding is by invitation only; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,125
Total Given
$215.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Basic Fund'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.
The Basic Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?