What is Form 990 or 990-PF? How can I learn about using them?
Exempt organizations must file some version of Form 990 with the IRS each year to comply with federal regulations. Public charities file Form 990; private foundations file Form 990-PF (PF stands for Private Foundation).
Forms 990 and 990-PF can be vital tools for grantseekers when researching a foundation's past giving patterns, and will include the recipients' names, locations, and grant amounts. Some funders will even briefly describe the purpose of each grant. They can also be beneficial as nonprofit marketing tools.
Forms
Form 990-PF
Information on this form includes:
- A private foundation's assets
- Financial activities
- Trustees and officers
- Most importantly, a complete list of grants awarded for the specified fiscal year
Form 990
This form has information on a public charity's finances and activities which is accurate and open to public scrutiny. Among the details:
- Charity assets
- Total figures for donations and grants received
- Board and top staff members
- Whether the charity makes grants
However, public charities are not required to publicly disclose names and addresses of contributors. You can read more about how to research individual donors here.
Form 990-N
Public charities with annual gross receipts of less than $50,000 do not have to file the complete Form 990. Instead, they may file the Form 990-N, also called the "e-Postcard." This short electronic form tells the IRS that the charity is still operating. It's very basic information includes:
- The organization's legal name
- Location
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- The principal officer's name
You can search e-Postcard filings using the IRS's Tax Exempt Organizations Search.
Research
990s can be used for a variety of research purposes. For example:
- Contact information. The 990 might be the only reliable go-to resource for contact information if the nonprofit does not have a website--and 90% of them don't.
- Partners and funders. Search for collaborative partners and funders whose missions align with your own.
- Who's who. The 990 provides the names of organizations' board members. You, your board or staff might know them.
To learn more about using 990s in your research, see our Diagram of Form 990 (scroll down to find the download link) and our resource Demystifying the 990-PF.
Candid's application, Foundation Directory Online, makes research easy by extracting information from 990s and putting it into a searchable format. Foundation Directory Online is available by subscription or can be accessed for free at a funding information network site near you. The application also provides access to more than 140,000 organizations' 990 forms.
For those individuals looking to consult 990s as their primary source, Candid offers the 990 Finder. To learn more about using the Form 990-PF in your research, look at The Chronicle of Philanthropy's free toolkit, Mining the 990: A Guide to Gleaning Key Data From Charities' Tax Forms.
Marketing
Many people look at 990s, including the media, IRS, donors, board members, and other nonprofits. That means 990s can be a useful opportunity to tell your organization's story. Among the marketing possibilities:
- Describing a program activity in detail
- Expanding your organization's level of transparency
- Highlighting statistics, like the number of people served or volunteers
Candid's podcast, Telling Your Story: Maximizing Your Organization's Form 990, explores this topic.
See also our related Knowledge Base articles:
- Where can I find an organization's Form 990 or 990-PF?
- Where can I find historical tax returns and annual reports for foundations?
Have a question about this topic? Ask us!
Candid's Online Librarian service will answer your questions within two business days.
Ask usExplore resources curated by our staff for this topic:
Staff-recommended websites
-
Candid
Demystifying the 990-PF
Explains the different sections of the Form 990-PF and how to interpret the contents of a foundation's annual return.
-
IRS
Form 990
View or download the most current version of IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.
-
IRS
Form 990-PF
View or download the most current version of the IRS Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation.
-
Staff pick
NPCCNY
Form 990: A Detailed Examination
Provides a thorough explanation of the Form 990, its contents, and ways of interpreting an organization's return. Available in Microsoft Word format.
-
IRS [PDF]
Instructions for 990-PF
Provides line-by-line instructions for organizations filing Form 990-PF.
-
IRS [PDF]
Instructions for Form 990
Provides line-by-line instructions for organizations filing Form 990.
-
Glasspockets
Is Your 990-PF Working Against You?
Learn the most common mistakes for private foundations to avoid when filing their Form 990-PF.
-
IRS
Tax Exempt Organizations Search
990-N tax forms are filed by tax-exempt organizations whose gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less. This page provides a link to search for and view 990-N filings, or you can download a complete list of organizations.
-
Telling the Not-for-Profit Story Through Form 990 - Journal of Accountancy
This website looks at the ways in which nonprofits can use their Form 990 to educate potential donors, grantors, and board members on the organization's merit.
Staff-recommended books
-
Form 990: Exploring the Form's Complex Schedules
Find: Amazon | Free eBook
-
The "How To" Grants Manual
Find: Amazon | Free eBook