Fundamental Needs INC

Tax-deductible

Cortez, CO501(c)(3)Food & AgricultureEIN 85-3603760Revenue $639K in FY2025

On file with the IRSfundamentalneeds.net77 W Main St Ste B, 81321-3133 · Cortez, COTax-exempt since Feb 2021Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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At Fundamental Needs we partner with underserved communities in the United States to address critical gaps in access to clean drinking water electricity education and vocational opportunities. By combining community-led approaches with practical solutions we empower individuals and families to overcome systemic barriers and create lasting change. Our key initiatives include: The Oasis Project: Installed 170 off-grid water systems in the Navajo Nation providing sustainable clean water while training local high school students in vocational skills. Entrepreneurship Program: A business education program at SWOS teaching market research financial literacy and business planning with a final pitch competition and mentorship from Fort Lewis College and CU Boulder. Cortez Makerspace In Development: Piloted workforce training in 3D printing CNC machining and business development while securing partnerships for future certifications and technical training.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 15 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $62K a year · 12% of revenue · last 3 filings
Fine: a surplus in 2 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$92K
to officers and key staff · 19% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 51% of similar orgs
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 19% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $18K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$54K
15% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 15% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$639K
+26% vs prior year
Spent
$495K
To programs
87%
Net assets
$300K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$639K
FY2025▲ +26%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$101K
FY2022$146K
FY2023$384K
FY2024$508K
FY2025$639K
Expenses
$495K
FY2025▼ -14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021Not on file
FY2022Not on file
FY2023$277K
FY2024$574K
FY2025$495K
Net assets
$300K
FY2025▲ +93%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$69K
FY2022$109K
FY2023$222K
FY2024$156K
FY2025$300K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2021.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $431K Management & general 7% · $32K Fundraising 6% · $31K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $92K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$49,313Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chairwoman and Pm
$25,000Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member and New Mexico Pm
$18,000Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Justice Ramos’s $49K as Executive Director is at the 51st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1171 $100K–1M food & agriculture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Justice Ramos$49,313$58,600$37,170$15,574$4,240
Kashon Harrison$18,000$25,530$10,300—$200
Jennie Ramos$25,000$20,000$14,200$4,900$450
Eileen Holiday——$15,500$3,000$1,500
Cayce Reese———$6,160—
Ian Fuler———$5,940—
Ian Fuller————$2,540

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Provides clean water, electricity, education, and job training to underserved US communities.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $431K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

The Oasis Project addresses the lack of access to clean running water on the Navajo Nation by installing off-grid water systems for families who have lived without water infrastructure for generations. The project provides solar-powered water pumps storage tanks and filtration systems ensuring sustainable and long-term solutions.

$260Kprogram expense
02

The Cortez Makerspace is an initiative designed to provide technical training workforce development and business support for entrepreneurs students and community members. While the full makerspace is awaiting funding and a permanent location Fundamental Needs has actively worked to develop partnerships programming and workforce…

$100Kprogram expense
03

Fundamental Needs Entrepreneurship Program provides hands-on business education to high school students equipping them with problem-solving skills financial literacy and real-world experience in launching a business. The program is currently offered at Southwest Open School SWOS and served an average of 12 students per class in 2024.

$71Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$18K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$639K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$656K
Money outPt IX
$495K
Ln 25
Programscol B$431K
Managementcol C$32K
Fundraisingcol D$31K
Owns and owesPt X
$300K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$153K
Total assetsLn 16$354K
LiabilitiesLn 26$54K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$656K
Government grantsLn 1e$5K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$41K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$18K
Total revenueLn 12$639K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$153K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$153K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$112K
Other assetsLn 15$23K
Total assetsLn 16$354K
LiabilitiesLn 26$54K
Net assetsLn 32$300K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 615
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$47K$153K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$121K$112K
Total assetsLn 16$223K$354K
LiabilitiesLn 26$67K$54K
Net assetsLn 32$156K$300K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$90K$64K$18K$7K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0$0$0$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0$0$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$0$0$0$0
Management feesLn 11a$90K$72K$2K$15K
Legal feesLn 11b$0$0$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0$0$0$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$13K$13K$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0$0$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$13K$9K$4K$0
Information technologyLn 14$0$0$0$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$52K$52K$0$0
TravelLn 17$54K$49K$5K$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0$0$0$0
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0$0$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$10K$9K$956$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$160K$150K$1K$9K
All other expensesLn 24e$14K$13K$416$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$495K$431K$32K$31K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $639K$495K$144K$300K 990 PDF
FY2024 $508K$574K−$67K$156K 990 PDF
FY2023 $384K$277K$107K$222K 990 PDF
FY2022 $146K$109K 990 PDF
FY2021 $101K$69K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $639,347 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $513,185$656,345
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$5,675−$16,998
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $507,510$639,347
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $0$90,187
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $11,680$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $562,449$404,704
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $574,129$494,891
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$66,619$144,456
Part VI · Governance 5 of 7 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $639,347 across 13 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$18,100
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$5,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$633,245
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$41,400
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$656,345
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$16,998−$16,998
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$16,998$639,347
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $494,891 across 27 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $64,425 · Management $18,331 · Fundraising $7,431$90,187
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $72,463 · Management $1,915 · Fundraising $15,450$89,828
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $12,622 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$12,622
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,765 · Management $3,875 · Fundraising $0$12,640
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $51,763 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$51,763
IX-17 TravelPrograms $48,842 · Management $5,427 · Fundraising $0$54,269
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $8,600 · Management $956 · Fundraising $0$9,556
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $150,188 · Management $1,472 · Fundraising $8,612$160,272
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $13,338 · Management $416 · Fundraising $0$13,754
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $431,006 · Management $32,392 · Fundraising $31,493$494,891
Part X · Balance sheet $353,858 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $46,578$153,424
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $55,409$64,871
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $121,129$112,188
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$23,375
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $223,116$353,858
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $0$0
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $67,290$53,576
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $53,839$123,386
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $101,987$176,895
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $155,826$300,281
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $223,116$353,857
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $300,282 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$639,347
XI-2 Total expenses$494,891
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$144,456
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$155,826
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$300,282

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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