At Give Basic Needs, our core mission revolves around two interconnected goals: to reduce suffering and amplify happiness around the world. We believe that by addressing fundamental human needs, we pave the way for greater well-being and joy. Our unique approach is built on the power of surprise: we randomly give vital resources directly to those who need them most.

What We Provide

We concentrate our efforts on three key areas to provide these vital resources:

  • Food: We combat food insecurity through initiatives like providing grocery gift cards or distributing nutritious items such as rice, maize, and sunflower oil. We’ve also provided ready-to-eat items like breakfast burritos. Our goal is to bring nourishment and joy, recognizing that malnutrition, including stunting and wasting, remains a significant global health issue among young children. This category also includes funding new hand pump boreholes to provide potable, clean drinking water, significantly improving health, hygiene, and resilience in communities like Dekpunga, Nabule, Pulo, Sampemo, and Nausugu-Mang in the Gushegu municipality. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are directly linked to a heavy burden of disease, making clean water a fundamental necessity for food security and overall well-being.
  • Shelter: We help with housing challenges by offering rent assistance to alleviate financial strains and unlock avenues for greater stability. Recognizing the critical need for safe living environments, we also support projects like providing solar streetlights for enhanced safety, improved education access, and better community connectivity. Additionally, we provide bus passes to help individuals reach shelters or transitional housing and access essential services, understanding that the lack of basic shelter is a profound challenge.
  • Medical: We provide access to medical services or screenings, which directly contributes to better health, overall well-being, and empowerment. This includes offering medical screenings for conditions like malaria, Hepatitis B & C, and HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, we provide education and discussions on topics such as sustainable menstruation products and hygiene, breast self-examination, and birth control. Hygiene bags containing essentials like toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo are also distributed. These initiatives address basic needs often taken for granted, offering physical comfort and a powerful reminder that recipients are seen and cared for. Screenings can unveil crucial health insights, setting the stage for proactive care and empowerment.

Our Approach: Impactful Surprise Giving

We believe in the power of surprise and intentionally structured acts of kindness to provide vital resources. Our giving events are designed to be uplifting moments, where the smiles and gratitude generated by these acts are immeasurable. This is the essence of our philosophy: Small Acts. Big Happy.

A Glimpse into a Giving Event

Here’s an example of how a medical-based giving event in Ghana might work:

A Program Assistant secures foundation approval for a medical event at a local clinic, school, or community location where healthcare access is challenging. Our Program Assistants are independent contractors who are highly in tune with the needs of the communities they serve and operate with high ethical standards. This role involves daily engagement with company communication platforms (email, Discord, WhatsApp) and participation in weekly meetings, ensuring close adherence to established policies, standards, and regulations.

Upon arrival, the Assistant coordinates with local contacts (like school staff or community leaders) and the medical provider team to set up the screening or service area. We typically bring in or schedule a team of medical professionals for the event.

Medical professionals then provide health screenings or specific services, suchs as malaria testing, Hepatitis B & C testing, and HIV/AIDS testing, along with discussions and supplies related to menstruation and hygiene. These services significantly contribute to the health and well-being of residents, and screenings can unveil crucial health insights, setting the stage for proactive care and empowerment.

As recipients receive the services, the Assistant takes event pictures and video for compliance documentation.

Finally, they ask recipients to share their positive experience and help spread happiness – Small Acts. Big Happy.

This process of randomly giving vital resources applies across all our focus areas, adapting the method to the specific need being met. For a food-based event at a grocery store, the Assistant gets approval, purchases gift cards, finds individuals in the store, gives them the cards with information about Give Basic Needs, takes photos, and asks them to share their story and help spread happiness. For a shelter-based event at an apartment building, the Assistant gets approval, works with the landlord to notify residents, sets up a table in a common area, collects apartment numbers from visiting residents, takes photos, and asks them to share their story and help spread happiness. Each event includes Proof of Effort and Proof of Budget for accountability.

How We’re Funded

All funds that fuel our work are generated by organizational investment income or provided by generous donors. Give Basic Needs is a U.S. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Corporation, and we accept currency donations. We have also previously accepted donations in cryptocurrency and digital assets. You will receive a donation letter for your contributions for your tax accountant. Every contribution, big or small, helps us reach more people and create lasting change.

Why It Matters

When basic needs are met and suffering is reduced, it creates space for happiness to flourish. The Give Basic Needs mission is grounded in the belief that fostering happiness leads to stronger, more resilient communities. Research and experience show that happy people solve problems faster, show more empathy, and navigate challenges more effectively. Each small gesture, when aligned with the Give Basic Needs mission, contributes to a hopeful future and sparks a powerful ripple effect of positive change.

Join Us

Your involvement is crucial to our mission’s success. You can join us in this journey of positive change and help create Small Acts. Big Happy. together:

  • Donate your resources, estate, or life insurance benefits. Your contribution fuels our mission to empower communities worldwide.
  • Volunteer your time and skills by becoming a Functional Area Liaison to help run giving events.
  • Spread our message of compassion and hope. Share stories and inspire others by connecting with us on social media.
  • Join us as a Corporate Partner or member of our Leadership Circle.