How to Find Financial Information About a Non-Profit Organization
- 1). Write a letter to the nonprofit. In a brief letter, include your name and address, as well as a phone number where you can be reached. The agency has 30 days to respond but just seven days to send an estimate of costs for copies. The IRS says that the group should be able to provide three years' worth of 990s as well as its application for tax-exempt status.
- 2). Walk in to the nonprofit's office and ask to see its 990. Requests for 990s and the application for tax-exempt status should be filled the day of the request, the IRS says. Bring money, a checkbook or a money order. The IRS allows nonprofits to charge 20 cents per page for copies of their 990s. A Form 990 usually runs from 20 to 40 pages, although some nonprofits may file 990s with more than 100 pages. The IRS says that if a nonprofit has regional offices with more than three employees, it must also make 990s available for inspection there.
- 3). Access the Web. Nonprofits that make their 990s available on their website in .pdf format are not required to make copies at their headquarters or regional headquarters. They must make them available for inspection, however. If they make them widely available on the Web, they must inform people who request copies where to find them.
