Follow the Nonprofit Money: Reading a Form 990
Most tax-exempt groups file a Form 990. It shows revenue, expenses, top pay, and grants. Read the form, not the brochure.
NU commentary. This is an NU original reading guide for a public tax form. It is not tax advice and not a judgment about any organization.
AI-assisted. Drafted with AI assistance. The form itself is the record. Disclosure and law references.
What gets filed
Most tax-exempt organizations file a Form 990 with the IRS each year. The IRS describes the form on About Form 990. The return shows revenue, expenses, top compensation, and grants made.
Where to look
- Part VII for pay.
- Schedule I for grants.
- The mission statement, set next to the actual spending. If the mission and the money describe two different organizations, that gap is the thing to read, not a verdict by itself.
A free lookup
ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer makes the filings searchable. The Explorer is a search tool over the filed returns. The Form 990 is the record. Open the return, not only the summary cards.
NU's shorter companion is check a nonprofit 990.
Not tax, legal, or financial advice. Filings can be amended. Read the year you mean to read.