How to Find Nonprofit Financial Statements

Finding a nonprofit organization's financial statements isn’t like pulling up a public company’s 10-K report, but the information is often just as public—if you know where to look. Whether you're a donor doing due diligence, a grantmaker assessing risk, or an accountant preparing for an engagement, getting your hands on a nonprofit's financials is a foundational step. This guide provides a clear roadmap to locating these documents, focusing on the most reliable and direct sources available.

First, Know What You're Looking For: The Form 990

For most U.S.-based nonprofit organizations, the key financial document you will be looking for is the Form 990. This is an annual information return that most tax-exempt organizations are required to file with the IRS. It provides a detailed overview of the organization’s finances, governance, and program activities. It's the nonprofit world’s equivalent of a corporate annual report and financial statements rolled into one publicly available file.

Under IRC Section 6104, nonprofits are legally required to make their three most recent Form 990 filings publicly available. This transparency mandate is the reason you can access this information. Depending on the size of the organization, you might encounter a few different versions:

• Form 990: The standard long-form return for larger organizations with gross receipts of $200,000 or more, or total assets of $500,000 or more.
• Form 990-EZ: A shortened version for mid-sized organizations with gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000.
• Form 990-N (e-Postcard): An electronic notice for small organizations with gross receipts of normally $50,000 or less. This form contains very little financial data beyond confirming the organization is still active.
• Form 990-PF: This form is filed specifically by private foundations and provides different financial details related to grantmaking and investments.

When you access a Form 990, you're getting direct access to the nonprofit's financial DNA. The most important sections for understanding an organization's financial health are the Statement of Revenue (Part VIII), Statement of Functional Expenses (Part IX), and the Balance Sheet (Part X).

Where to Find Nonprofit Financial Statements: The Step-by-Step Guide

You can find a nonprofit's financial documents through several methods, from comprehensive public databases to a simple direct request. Here are the most effective places to search, starting with the fastest and most reliable.

Method 1: IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search

The most direct and authoritative source is the IRS itself. The agency maintains a public database where you can find copies of Form 990 filings for virtually every registered nonprofit.

How to use the IRS database:

1. Visit the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool.
2. You can search by the organization's name, Employer Identification Number (EIN), or location. Using the EIN is the most accurate way to find a specific organization if you have it.
3. Once you locate the correct organization from the search results, click on its name to see its profile.
4. On the profile page, you'll see a table listing all the Form 990s the IRS has received and processed for that organization, usually available as downloadable PDFs.

This is the primary source; all other databases typically pull their data from what is filed here. The only downside is that there can be a time lag between when an organization files its return and when it appears in the database.

Method 2: Use Online Nonprofit Databases

Several third-party platforms aggregate nonprofit data from the IRS and other sources, often presenting it in a much more user-friendly format. They are excellent resources for research and analysis.

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

For quick access and a clean interface, the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer is an outstanding tool built by the investigative journalism organization. It allows you to search for nonprofits by name or keyword across the country.

• The search pulls up key financial data on a summary page, showing years of revenue, expenses, and assets at a glance.
• Each organization's profile page has a section for "Filings," where you can directly download PDF copies of their Form 990s.
• The interface is clean, fast, and doesn't require a login to access the core documents.

Candid (formerly GuideStar)

GuideStar, now part of Candid, is perhaps the most comprehensive database of nonprofits available. Organizations often supplement their public filings with additional information to create a more complete profile for donors and grantmakers.

• You'll need to create a free account to view detailed information, including Form 990s.
• Once logged in, searching for an organization gives you a profile that includes fundraising information, program details, and direct links to download their IRS filings.
• Many organizations also upload their full-blown audited financial statements, which provide even more detail than a Form 990, including auditor's notes and a statement of cash flows.

Method 3: State-Level Charity Regulators

In addition to filing with the IRS, many nonprofits are required to register with the state agency that oversees charitable organizations. These are often part of the State Attorney General's office or Secretary of State. These state-level databases can be a great resource, especially for finding information that might not yet be available in the IRS database.

For example:

• The New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau has a searchable registry where you can find financial reports and annual filings for nonprofits operating in the state.
• The California Department of Justice maintains a similar search tool through its Charities Registry.

To find the relevant agency in your area, search for "[State Name] charity search" or "[State Name] nonprofit registry." This can also reveal state-specific filings that offer a different view of an organization's finances.

Method 4: The Organization's Website

Many nonprofits prioritize transparency and publish their financial information directly on their own websites. This approach demonstrates accountability to donors and the public.

• Look for sections in the website navigation titled “About Us,” “Our Finances,” “Transparency,” or “Annual Reports.”
• Often, you will find more than just the Form 990. Many organizations publish full annual reports, which include stories and highlights from the year alongside financial summaries.
• Larger nonprofits will typically post their complete audited financial statements, which are their "official" financials prepared and reviewed by an independent CPA. These are often more professionally presented and easier to read than a Form 990.

Method 5: Just Ask!

Finally, remember the law is on your side. Nonprofits are legally obligated to provide copies of their three most recent Form 990s upon request. If you cannot find the documents online, you can request them directly from the organization.

• Send a polite email or formal written letter to the organization's main office. Clearly state which documents you are requesting.
• The organization is allowed to charge a reasonable fee for the cost of copying and postage, but they cannot charge for the documents themselves.
• They must also make the documents available for public inspection at their main office during regular business hours.

What To Do If You Can't Find Anything

If your search comes up empty, don't immediately assume the worst. There are several legitimate reasons why an organization's financial information might not be readily available:

• They are too small: As mentioned, organizations falling below a certain revenue threshold may only be required to file a Form 990-N e-Postcard, which contains almost no financial data.
• They are a religious organization: Churches, synagogues, mosques, and similar religious organizations are often exempt from filing the Form 990, though some choose to do so voluntarily.
• The filing is too new: It can take several months for a new Form 990 to be processed by the IRS and appear in public databases. State registries are sometimes faster.
• You have the wrong name: The organization may operate under a public "doing business as" (DBA) name that is different from its legal name on file with the IRS. Try searching for variations or confirm the legal name.

Final Thoughts

Accessing a nonprofit's financial statements is a crucial part of an accountant's or donor's due diligence, and tools like the IRS search portal, ProPublica, and state registries have made the Form 990 more accessible than ever. By starting with these public databases and moving on to an organization’s own website or a direct request, you can gather the information needed to evaluate its financial stability and mission effectiveness.

Of course, finding the Form 990 is just the first step. Understanding the complexities—such as the rules around unrelated business income on the 990-T, navigating multi-state charitable solicitation requirements, or interpreting donor classifications in Schedule A—often requires hours of extra research. Instead of digging through IRS publications or outdated articles, we rely on Feather AI to get accurate, citation-backed answers to these technical tax questions in moments, ensuring we can provide guidance built on solid ground.