Totals
- Total revenue
- $507,510
- Total expenses
- $574,129
- Contributions and grants received
- $513,185
- Grants paid
- $0
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- -$5,675
- Total assets, end of year
- $223,116
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $67,290
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $155,826
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $534,678
- Management and general expenses
- $13,135
- Fundraising expenses
- $26,316
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $534,678
Program services were 93.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1a · Federated campaigns
$0
-
1b · Membership dues
$0
-
1c · Fundraising events
$9,450
-
1d · Related organizations
$0
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$0
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$503,735
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$49,000
-
3 · Investment income
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
5 · Royalties
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
6d · Net rental income or loss
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$8,170
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$9,450
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$19,725
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total -$11,555 · unrelated business $0 · excluded -$11,555
-
9a · Gaming: gross income
$0
-
9b · Gaming: direct expenses
$0
-
9c · Net income from gaming
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
11a · Other revenue: 522210
total $5,880 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $5,880 · excluded $0
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$5,880
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
11a · Fees: management
total $174,471 · program services $157,751 · management and general $5,860 · fundraising $10,860
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $11,680 · fundraising $11,680
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
11g · Fees: other
total $40,288 · program services $40,288 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
13 · Office expenses
total $10,773 · program services $3,027 · management and general $5,728 · fundraising $2,018
-
14 · Information technology
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
15 · Royalties
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
16 · Occupancy
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
17 · Travel
total $28,227 · program services $28,227 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $3,956 · program services $1,582 · management and general $1,187 · fundraising $1,187
-
20 · Interest
total $1,001 · program services $641 · management and general $360 · fundraising $0
-
21 · Payments to affiliates
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
23 · Insurance
total $5,841 · program services $5,270 · management and general $0 · fundraising $571
-
24a · Other expenses: Supplies and tools (Oasis Water Project off-grid water systems)
total $255,611 · program services $255,611 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
24b · Other expenses: Food Stipend (23 students/supervisors) 90 installs (351 total trips)
total $19,926 · program services $19,926 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
24c · Other expenses: New Mexico Truck Payment
total $9,100 · program services $9,100 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
24d · Other expenses: Colorado Truck Payment
total $7,755 · program services $7,755 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
-
24e · All other expenses
total $5,500 · program services $5,500 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $188,563 · end of year $46,578
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
7 · Other notes and loans receivable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
8 · Inventories for sale or use
beginning of year $12,500 · end of year $55,409
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$137,570
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$16,441
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $61,200 · end of year $121,129
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
13 · Investments: program-related
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
14 · Intangible assets
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
18 · Grants payable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
21 · Escrow or custodial account liability
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable
beginning of year $40,150 · end of year $67,290
-
24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $51,050 · end of year $53,839
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $171,063 · end of year $101,987
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
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.
Activities or mission (Part I)
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.
-
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. In addition to direct installations the program integrates workforce development by training and employing high school students to build and install water systems in their own communities. This approach not only expands access to clean water but also empowers youth with technical skills job training and a sense of ownership in solving local challenges. Since its launch the Oasis Project has installed over 170 off-grid water systems.
Expenses $471,241 · Revenue $5,880
-
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. Students engage in market research branding business planning and public speaking culminating in a final pitch competition where they present their business ideas to local entrepreneurs community leaders and investors. The program has also led to partnerships with Fort Lewis College CU Boulder and local businesses expanding mentorship and networking opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship and workforce development.
Expenses $60,935
-
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 development opportunities in preparation for its future launch. In 2024 Fundamental Needs hosted the "Start. Scale. Pitch!" three-part entrepreneurship workshop series? which introduced core business and financial skills critical to future makerspace programming. The series included: Unique Value Proposition April 2 2024: Helping participants identify community needs and develop business ideas with a sustainable advantage. Finance and Profitability April 9 2024: Covering financial literacy smart investments and negotiation strategies. Creating a Pitch Deck April 16 2024: Teaching participants how to build a compelling pitch deck and polish their presentation skills. Beyond these workshops Fundamental Needs has been developing workforce training programs for the makerspace which will include: Technical training in 3D printing CNC machining and laser cutting. Workshops on product development branding and small business operations. Collaborations with Fort Lewis College Pueblo Community College and local businesses to offer certifications and hands-on learning opportunities. While the full project is still in development these efforts have helped build momentum establish key partnerships and ensure that workforce training remains a priority for the makerspaces long-term success.
Expenses $2,502
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Justice Ramos
Executive Director
- Total calculated
- $58,600
- From this org
- $58,600
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $58,600
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $0
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0
- Filer's total
- $58,600
-
Jennie Ramos
Board Chairwoman and PM
- Total calculated
- $20,000
- From this org
- $20,000
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 10
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $20,000
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $0
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0
- Filer's total
- $20,000
-
Kashon Harrison
Board member and New Mexico PM
- Total calculated
- $25,530
- From this org
- $25,530
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 20
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $25,530
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $0
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0
- Filer's total
- $25,530
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
No itemized grants to organizations on this return.
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 5 May 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.1
- Source object
- 202541259349300309
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