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Grants Databases
Info Guides
Grants Research
- Getting Started
- How to Find Out About Funding
- The Fit-Funding Match
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- Grantmaking Public Charities
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Grant Proposals
Nonprofit Resources
- Starting a Nonprofit
- Boards & Management
- Consultants
- Fundraising
- Program Evaluation & Outcome Measurement
- Finding a Nonprofit
- 990 Forms
- Giving to Charities
- Professional Associations
- Jobs in the Nonprofit Sector
- Starting a Foundation
The Grants Collection is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center.
Research & Resources
Info Guides - Nonprofit Resources: IRS 990-PF Forms
This page lists links to access 990 forms online and provides a description of the 990 forms and how they are used for grants research and for researching nonprofit organizations.
On this page:
Web Links to Access 990 Forms
- 990 Finder
- A free look-up tool, from the Foundation Center, that allows you to search for the IRS information returns of private foundations, public charities, and other nonprofit organizations. A detailed explanation of 990-PF forms is available at "What are Forms 990-PF and where can I find them?"
- Foundation Finder
- Use the Foundation Finder to search by name for basic information on more than 73,000 private and community foundations in the U.S.
- GuideStar
- Registration required but it is free. Searchable database of 2,000,000 nonprofits and charities including information on programs and finances of some, based on the organization's IRS Form 990. Includes scanned images of IRS Form 990's and 990-PF's for many nonprofits. More information on 990 forms is available at GuideStar's Form 990 FAQs.
Explanation of the 990-PF
Start with the Foundation Center's FAQ on interpreting the information provided on the IRS Form 990-PF at and their excellent tutorial that explains 990-PF forms and how to use them.
What is the 990-PF?
The annual tax return that U.S. private foundations file with the IRS.
The 990 form is public information and is available on the Internet, from the IRS, from the State's Attorney General's office or from the foundation itself.
Why is the 990-PF important?
It may be the only source where you can find complete grants list, particularly for smaller and mid-sized foundations. Larger foundations often issue annual reports and/or have Web sites which contain this information.
What information is included?
- Financial data
- Application guidelines
- Names of foundation's board/officers/trustees
- Complete list of grants awarded
How current are they?
Typically one to two years behind.
Where can I view them online?
How do I find the information I need on a 990-PF?
The Foundation Center explains the form with this diagram (PDF).
Main sections:
- Page 1, top section & line 25: Date, name, address, assets, grants paid
- Page 6, Part VIII, line 1: List of board/officers/trustees*
- Page 9, Part XV, line 2, a, b c, d: Application information*
- Page 10, Part XV, line 3: Grants paid*
*Often you will be referred to supplementary pages at the end of the form for this information. For example, "See Statement 6, 8, etc."
Forms 990
Please note that 0n December 20, 2007, the IRS released a redesigned Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, for tax year 2008 (to be filed in 2009 and later years). See IRS Resources on the redesigned Form 990.
See also How to Read the IRS Form 990 & Find Out What it Means.
The Foundation Center explains How can I obtain copies of a public charity's IRS Form 990?