Key takeaways
- Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF and 990-T are public, and organizations must make their last three years available for inspection.
- Search for free with the IRS's Tax Exempt Organization Search, ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer or our 990 filing lookup tool.
- For foundation research, the 990-PF lists grants paid and often how to apply.
Free 990 filing lookup
Our nonprofit 990 filing lookup searches 472,357 returns that 442,139 organizations filed with the IRS, as listed in the IRS's 2026 Form 990 e-file index. Search by name or EIN to see which forms an organization filed and for which tax years, then open the full return from the IRS or ProPublica.
Which form does each organization file?
| Form | Who files it |
|---|---|
| 990-N (e-Postcard) | Organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less |
| 990-EZ | Gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000 (these groups may file a full 990 instead) |
| 990 | Gross receipts of $200,000 or more, or total assets of $500,000 or more |
| 990-PF | Private foundations, regardless of size |
| 990-T | Exempt organizations reporting unrelated business income |
Where to find a 990 for free
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. The IRS's official search shows an organization's exemption status, recent e-filed 990s and 990-N filings. Open IRS search.
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. A free, searchable archive of 990 filings with financial summaries and PDFs. Open Nonprofit Explorer.
- The organization itself. Exempt organizations must make their annual returns available for public inspection for three years, starting from the return's due date.
- Our lookup tool. A quick way to confirm which forms and tax years are in the IRS's 2026 e-file index. Open the 990 filing lookup.
What fundraisers should read first
- Part I summary (Form 990): total revenue, contributions, expenses and net assets at a glance, with the prior year for comparison.
- Revenue sources: how much comes from contributions, program fees, events and investments.
- Fundraising costs: event expenses and payments to professional fundraisers, which tell you how peers raise money.
- Compensation of officers and key staff: useful for benchmarking pay and identifying leaders.
- Board members: names of directors and trustees, helpful for prospect research and introductions.
- Mission and program descriptions: how the organization describes its work and results.
Researching foundations with the 990-PF
Private foundations file Form 990-PF every year. It shows the foundation's assets, the grants it paid during the year (often with each recipient and amount), its officers and trustees, and, in many cases, how to apply and whether it accepts unsolicited requests. Reviewing several years of grants is one of the best ways to see whether your organization is a fit before you reach out. See our list of the largest US foundations and upcoming grant deadlines.
What isn't public
Most exempt organizations, other than private foundations, don't have to disclose the names and addresses of their contributors. That's why donor names on schedules are usually blank or redacted in public copies of a 990.
How KFG helps
Kensington Fundraising Group uses public data like this to help nonprofits and associations plan respectful outreach to donors, members and sponsors. See phone fundraising or our fundraising glossary.