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Modest Needs Foundation

Modest Needs Foundation

www.modestneeds.org
What is your customer experience with Modest Needs Foundation?

Modest Needs Foundation Overview

The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.

Based on reviews, created with AI
Rating Distribution

Overall Customer Rating and Sentiment

Modest Needs Foundation has a 2.0 star rating from 55 reviews and overall customer sentiment is mostly negative with recurring reports of unmet promises and poor responsiveness.

Positive Feedback

Some applicants describe timely funding and helpful staff interventions that resolved emergencies, showing the donor model can work for select cases in Modest Needs Foundation reviews.

Negative Feedback / Risk Areas

  • Applicants report no response after approval and funds not sent.
  • Website and application errors prevent registration and submission.
  • Poor customer service and unreturned calls or emails.
  • Claims of inconsistent eligibility criteria and alleged mishandling of donor funds raise Modest Needs Foundation customer complaints.

Key Takeaways for Future Customers

  • Expect strict eligibility screening and possible application technical issues.
  • Document all communications and consider alternative emergency funding while awaiting a decision.
  • Be cautious sharing sensitive documents and verify timing for disbursements before relying on funds.
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Media from reviews

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Dusti Nfu

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Sacramento, California

Don't bother.

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I left a message yesterday morning with Monte Sneads and my call has not been returned as of now and I was calling for emergency rent help I was 260 short and the aim program has treated me so bad. I'm going into litigation to sue them and I can't get any help from social services.

It's ridiculous. It's like if you're not chronically homeless you don't get *** and I have never asked for help before. In fact I worked for three governors of this state and I worked my *** off and all I'm asking for is a little bit of help and I sign up for the Cal aim program and I can't get *** since March of last year. I am in debt to so many different people and I owe all kinds of money.

My mental health has just totally deteriorated. I'm not the same person anymore. The way they have treated me is not right and it's not OK and they are completely responsible for who I am today who is not somebody that I like I used to want to help people and I helped people all the time before myself even my kids sometimes I would help people get sober or get off the streets or learn how to deal with high anxiety or work relationships out that they have ruined. I sponsored over 20 girls and I've done outreach in San Francisco and Sacramento but I don't feel like my mind is in my mine is in control anymore.

I feel like negative glass half empty and it's because I have gotten literally ignored. I just started reaching out this week too higher-ups like way higher up the higher-ups at Lutheran, social services and Hope cooperative don't even call me back and their housing people literally ignore me. I'm proactive and I do the footwork all of it and I do my due diligence, but that's threatening to people, but I don't care that doesn't change the fact that they are in a professional position and I need *** help. It's so ridiculous.

I called 30 places in Sacramento 30 all between the hours of 8 AM and 2 PM yesterday for help with $260 one time only and I wasn't even asking for the full amount. I was willing to break it up if like four or five people helped me so I really was asking for like 50 or $60 from each place, but I got help from nobody in 30 places and I'm already part of a social service program through Kaiser and Medicaid. It's a complete joke. Don't sign up for the Cal aim program or sit back on your *** and make them do all the work because they get pissed off obviously when you do the work and you are too efficient or you're too responsible I mean hello I need a *** place to live.

Why do you think I wouldn't be on top of it? Should I not be but being on top of it has gotten me treated like garbage, which is not OK and then I get angry and you deserve to hear every word of what I say. It's just the truth of exactly what has happened so I've filed for a IMR in a state hearing. I was issued the state hearing literally immediately and they split it because I am complaining about the Cal aim program with LSS and Hope and I've made a civil rights complaint against the housing coordinator at Hope cooperative and it's going to be against our supervisor too because nobody has called me from either agency and I've left voicemails.

I've sent emails so now I'm doing it all on LinkedIn, so their coworkers and other people in the industry can see how competent they are NOT. My state hearing is literally at the end of next week so I'm just gotta hang on until then and I'm assuming that they are going to man up and do something about this because nobody else will. I don't recommend the Cal aim program and I don't recommend Lutheran social services. They are not doing housing navigation so if somebody tries to assign you there tell them no they're a joke and so is Hope cooperative their website is all about housing and they have supposedly one person who has an attitude and is rude and does not know professionalism at all and so don't waste your time they have wasted a month short of a year of my time I signed up in March of last year and I have gotten nothing.

I have turned in probably or let them know about at least 10 properties that I could get into that's between the two of them, but Hope since she started ignoring me when I complained about her, which is why I'm filing an official civil rights and discrimination complaint with the CA OCR and DMHC, and the Fair Housing Agency. I am also suing for breach of contract in small claims court. But the lame part about it is the money isn't even the worst of it. The worst is how it's changed me and made me negative and un trusting and doubtful and I now look at the glass half empty.

I never think I deserve anything now it's *** me up mentally and emotionally and I can't even put a price on that. Literally I don't know if I'll ever be the same person but I would recommend you do whatever it takes aside from signing up for these *** agencies in programs I've also because I'm smart and resourceful have asked for public record of the budget housing budgets for these places so I can find out how many people their housing and how much money they're getting from government grants and programs, etc. and find out how long people on average are waiting as part of the Cal aim program to get into housing. I got in someplace and I can't even get them to pay transitional rent which I think they owe me for a super long time because they *** me but at least I want the six months that is available now all I can help is that my state hearing fixes everything and by everything I mean, fixes these places and they're bad performance and they're attitudes and they're unprofessionalism and maybe some crookedness I find it hard to believe that people can act this way and get away with it like has been done.

I wonder if it's a issue illegal behavior on their part with the money that they're getting I don't trust either of them I don't know anybody in the whole wide world that would allow their employee to act in this manner not even if I cussed her out in person which I have not, but that would feel good. I think Hope Co cooperative housing lady should be fired and there's no excuse for this. You don't ever act like this, and if you have a problem with me and you don't wanna work with me anymore because you are threatened by my proactiveness or I bug you then tell your supervisor and they can work something out. They can work with me or something I mean, that's ridiculous to begin with but still there's several options that don't include ever to ignore your client and ignore their please for housing and their email saying I can get in here.

I just need this. She won't even work with my case manager from there and my case managers supervisor hasn't done anything either. What is wrong with these people? I just don't even understand.

I guess I am accustomed to ultra professionalism and ultra responsibility and respect, but these places don't deserve any of that. They don't have any of that and they don't deserve it..

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1 comment
Guest

If you think you received no help in the past, just wait. You're complaining on a third party site, calling people out and rating them poorly.

Deb C Krs

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Glendale, Arizona

Urgent need but cannot even register to submit an application.

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Updated by user Jan 19, 2026

PER "USA Today" August 19th, 2025: "Keith Taylor, former CEO of the Modest Needs Foundation, defrauded the charity he founded, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Taylor embezzled over $2.5 million in donations that were supposed to go to helping low-income workers cover unexpected medical bills and other expenses, such as broken appliances, prosecutors said."

Original review Jan 19, 2026
I am not able to even complete an application because their website is faulty. You have to "register" and then log in to submit an application, but there is a message stating their license key has expired.

In reading all the reviews after I found this, I am glad I didn't waste any precious time that I don't have on their "process". There's only one thing worse than no hope, and that's false hope! This is absolutely cruel and I hope people donating read all these reviews first. Appears someone is pocketing millions.

(I looked them up on the IRS website under charities and last they reported they took in 1.5 MILLION.).

I have looked and looked for recent reviews from someone they actually helped but my goodness there aren't but literally a few. Bad look, for sure.
Cons:
  • Unusable website

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

User's recommendation: Take down your website and stop accepting donations if you are out of business.

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Janene G

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

No customer service support

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I have been trying to log into my account, and they said I was inactive. I have been trying to get reactivated for about a week and still have been talking to nobody over the phone or email.

It keeps saying wrong email or can't contact them through this email, so what the *** am I supposed to do? I still need to apply for help.

Preferred solution: Talk to someone in customer service no

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Nita N Xvt

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Santa Maria, California

Their website and phone number is no longer working put you are accepting grant applications. I can’t update my personal info nor can reach anyone by email or phone because it’s disconnected.

Updated by user Jan 18, 2026

I would find another grant funding source. There was an issue with company owner entangled in embezzlement of donated funds.

Updated by user Jan 03, 2026

The website and phone is not working. It's disconencted.

Original review Jan 02, 2026

I need to update my address, email address, and phone number as they do not work. I keep receiving canned emails with the same info.

I applied for a grant in September 2024 and really changed my process. Please update your website and phone number.

Preferred solution: To reach out to someone about my grant application status. I wonder if this is a legitimate agency.

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Anonymous
map-marker Cincinnati, Ohio

No contact

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I was trying to apply online. I had a previous application and now I keep trying to apply and it will not let me login to a new application so I was trying to see if I could get some help.

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Helen B Vue

Help with my watered can not cannevtvto modest needs

My hours got dropped at work a few months back, and I'm only working 9 hours a week. I lost 21 hours, so I've gotten behind on my bills.

I had to replace my car as well, and my water has been turned off for two months now. I needed help.

Pros:
  • Never applied before to then

Preferred solution: Help with water bill

View full review
Nawal A Vwa

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

My application is still under review, but I appreciate the support and professionalism shown so far. Thank you

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Updated by user Jul 18, 2025

After I submitted my application, I received a follow-up and a tracking link. My request is still under review. I haven't received final assistance yet, but I truly appreciate the attention and hope for a positive outcome soon."

Original review Jul 18, 2025

My experience with the customer service has been positive. They are responsive and professional, and my application is currently under review. I appreciate their support and remain hopeful for a positive resolution to my issue

Loss:
$4950
Pros:
  • I share my pain and hope for relief and peace with my children
Cons:
  • Support only in us and canada

Preferred solution: I’m seeking urgent financial help to cover rent and protect my family from eviction

View full review
Slim S Gyh

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

No assistance at all

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Have applicants complete the entire process with PII. Then, a message pops up that they are not taking apps.

Say that first! We aren't visiting your site for sh*ts and giggles.

Cons:
  • Just wants donors and your piu
  • Does not take new apps
  • Tine waster

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Waste of time

View full review
Shan27

I am one of their clients that needed help that supposedly got funded, but never received no money.

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It was a time in my life that I really needed to help. Everybody can read my story in the pictures.

I found this nonprofit organization. I applied after two weeks of wondering to myself should I or shouldn't I. As you see I did. When I got the email stating that I was approved, I was jumping for joy because I really needed the help I was laid off of Work.

I had two surgeries a hysterectomy and gallbladder removal. I had no income, didn't know which way to go. Furthermore, I asked my county for Help, and they refused they said that I make too much money. Haha, yeah when I am working.

This was supposed to be a blessing in Gods eyes I was thinking, so I went ahead and applied. I was approved. I was funded, but never received my money. Waited 2 1/2 months still nothing then one day out of the blue I hear something about modest needs.

I clicked on it. I find out after reading the article. The man that put this organization together was embezzling the money that was given to us, and saying it was going to us clients when he was pocketing himself. One thing I could not understand is why would he order us to write a thank you note before we get the funding?

With that being said it gave me a red flag and a bad feeling in my gut. I didn't want to believe it, but something in my gut was telling me you're not getting the money Shannon. I called them for three weeks straight left messages. Furthermore, I emailed them several times.

Additionally, I would say probably eight different times, I was so hopeless, angry. In addition, I even went to writing an email to them and expressing how I felt. Something came to me, I thought why don't I contact all the donors. Then I thought I don't even know where to begin because they're all over the USA.

Our donors give money thinking that it's coming to us. We don't get it. It's really sad to think that someone can do this to people in need and don't have a conscience. Our donors give to us thinking we need it and trust it is getting to us.

Our donors have a heart, but then to find out that the money that they give doesn't even go to their US, it goes to the pocket so he can live a high life dream world. That's what made me sick to my stomach. I also included my email that I sent to that man that owns modest needs. I asked for help to keep my phone on and in order for me to keep my phones on, I had to take money from my rent knowing ill get it back I was approved from Modest Needs.

Furthermore, I waited no check nothing came I was two months now behind on rent. I just went through an eviction and now my family is going to be out on the streets, because modest needs did not give me the money that they got funded. Instead, the man put the money in his pocket, and spent it like it belonged to him. He raises extra money also he tells the donors that we need this much money, and he embezzles a couple of hundred dollars in his pocket.

I did put the proof with this review/complaint. I asked for a certain amount they raised it up almost $200. What a scam what's a scam. I am not the only client that got messed over by modest needs, but I'm just the type of person that's going to speak my mind.

Specially, when I see people hurting. Now my family going to be on the street November 4, THANKS MODEST NEEDS for the lies saying you're going to help when you didn't. I really appreciate that, God please forgive this man for being a crook because I forgive him, but I really want you to look over our donors because they're the ones that donated to us thinking that we are getting the money when we have to write a thank-you letter stating that we got it because that's what they told us we needed to do. If we didn't do it we would not get the funding.

But in reality, we never did anyway it'all a scam.

He's a con artist, embezzler, a crook, and a snake upon the good. The karma will bite him one day.

User's recommendation: I would read the reviews before You apply to something that is not in your area and if it’s too good to be true, maybe it is. Do research before you do anything. I wish I would’ve before I took my time and invested. but at that moment, I thought it was the good thing to do. I thought they were going to be able to help me not take advantage of my circumstances for their beneficial.

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Bobby H Krb

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

It's awful

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They do not assist people on social security benefits or survivors they only assist people who are required to be employed and says must be employed people with low pay checks from a job no social security benefits clients no military no others because thier incomes are too.high and are sufficiently able to meet.thier needs on thier own I have been Informed of this and was told all beneficiary people on social security are automatically denied not eligible for modestneeds hmm very interesting sadly they don't help social security clients oh well they have to move.on and find someone else that helps

User's recommendation: Do not apply there you will he automatically denied if on social security benefits

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Nadene Cmm

Says funded can’t get a hold of anyone have left messages and sent email

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went through the whole process of modest needs hesitant because it is a bit embarrassing to have to ask for help especially as a hard-working individual but Im a single mom. I was desperate waited and was very surprised to get funded by the donors so thankful for all the kindness in the world two weeks still nothing Bill still falling behind.

I understand people are busy, but the communication is terrible.

I dont know if the program is legit anymore I wrote my thank you to the company thank the donors for help they provided just letting the people who donate to the site know that I was an applicant and I did not receive the funds that they sent but thanks for being kind. Please be aware, Im not sure if this is a scam or not sad if it because people are wasting their time

User's recommendation: be aware that this might be a scam terrible terrible communication with the applicants

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Melon C

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Won't even let you finish application if income doesn't meet their BS criteria

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Went to this site hoping to get help with 2 months of rent, because I was out of work for a month because of a back injury. Technically I'm at the max part time hours allowed, but the application says no - you have to work full time.

I work overtime often enough so okay, changed that and submitted my last tax return - sorry you don't meet our income criteria. They basically say you can be below the poverty line, but not THIS much under it. What I make normally pays my bills just fine, so why does that matter? You don't know my specific situation because you won't let me get to that point.

This is supposed to be a grant and not a loan, so I'm not getting the nitpicky criteria. I get wanting to prevent scams, but this just shuts out so many of us who really need the help.

Loss:
$1000
Cons:
  • Extremely nitpicky with their application

Preferred solution: I'd like to actually get help from ModestNeeds by being allowed to put in an application.

User's recommendation: If you're like me and happen to be farther under the poverty line than they'd like (22k a year) then don't bother. They'll deny you.

View full review
Corina W Gab

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Denied

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So our family qualified and applied after being pre qualified well today we found out we were denied. I suspect Mosest Needs doesnt actually help anyone!

Please save yourself from giving them your personal information because I have yet to hear anyone actually receive any help from them.

Even friends applied and got denied. This charity is most likely a scam.

Loss:
$1700
Pros:
  • Online application
Cons:
  • Do not actually help but they do ask for a lot of personal information

Preferred solution: The help requested

View full review
Crystal H Tpy

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Disappointed

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Modest Needs Foundation - Disappointed

Don't go here if you are in dire need...I know most end up here because they are desperate but don't bother...it's obviously a scam if you can't proceed with application because you " dont make enough" ...I make 11,000 but their bracket was 28,000-35,000 and I don't qualify??? I also submitted tax return info instead of a bank account so non desirable for TWO reasons...not enough to STEAL and no way to STEAL it. Won't last long ...I'm creating a blog and go after ALL of these sites that prey on those of us in need...

Preferred solution: They need to delete this site....... disabled people try to use this for help. They need to be sued.

User's recommendation: Don't bother

View full review
Vickie P Ruu

Due to my account

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I have been working with this all day trying to get the help

I paid money for this program and right now I feel like I lost $21 because I have been asking for help the email that I use for this account does not work Ive been trying to reset the email the email that theyre sending me it does not work I cant reach anybody Im sorry and I know your program help others right now I feel so helpless I am 64 years old I dont know much about the computer I have no one to help me and I paid for this program and I cant get anyone to help me

Loss:
$21

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: I am just on satisfied right now with the help that I have not been getting

View full review
Faith L Bhb

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Its a SCAM

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They refused to help me because I dont make enough money! And as a 50 yo disabled woman who has no chiildren i dont need help they claim.

I came to them for help because I am a human trafficking domestic violence victim fleeing to resettle in a safe place and needed funds for that. I was turned away because I dont make enough money from my Social Security check.

I

Pros:
  • Make it seem as if theres a chance
  • Thought of a caring
  • Helping people when they need it
Cons:
  • Being discriminated against
  • Did not respond when i tried to contact them
  • Lie about applications

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

User's recommendation: go some where else for help.

View full review

About

Summary

Modest Needs Foundation is a non-for-profit, charitable organization, exempt from federal income tax in the United States, operates primarily as an on-line entity. Modest Needs is an award-winning public charity that works to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for the low-income workers. The company was founded in 2002. The company is empowering compassionate members of the general public to safely and securely help hard-working, low-income households to afford the kinds of short-term emergency expenses such as the unexpected car repair, the unanticipated visit to the doctor, or the unusually large heating bill, for example. Through its unique Non-Profit Grant program, the company simultaneously empowers donors to invest directly in small non-profit organizations.

Modest Needs Foundation reviews and complaints

Modest Needs Foundation is ranked 65 out of 1470 in Non Profit Organizations category

Area Served

USA

Payment Methods

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