The Nonprofit 990 Field Guide: What Every Line Actually Means
A plain-English reference to the key fields on IRS Form 990. What total revenue, net assets, program expenses, and other financial terms actually tell you about a nonprofit.
Nonprofit Data Terms Explained: A Reference for Grant Writers and Researchers
EIN, NTEE, 990-PF, Schedule I, subsection codes — a concise reference for the terminology you'll encounter when researching nonprofits and foundations.
5 Free GuideStar Alternatives for Nonprofit Research in 2026
GuideStar (now Candid) starts at $3,499/year. Here are free and affordable alternatives for looking up nonprofit financials, 990 data, and grant information.
How to Look Up 990 Tax Returns for Free
A step-by-step guide to finding and reading nonprofit 990 tax returns. Learn where to search, what the different form types mean, and how to find the data you need.
How to Find Nonprofit Grant Data (Who's Funding Whom)
Learn how to research which foundations are giving grants, who's receiving them, and how much, using free public data from IRS 990 filings.
How to Find a Nonprofit's EIN Number (3 Free Methods)
Need to look up a nonprofit's EIN? Here are three free ways to find any tax-exempt organization's Employer Identification Number in minutes.
Nonprofit Executive Compensation: How Much Do Nonprofit CEOs Make?
What do nonprofit executives actually earn? We break down how to find real compensation data from IRS 990 filings and what the numbers look like across organization sizes.
What Are NTEE Codes? A Plain-English Guide to Nonprofit Classification
NTEE codes classify every nonprofit in the US by what it does. Here's how the system works, how to look up an organization's code, and why it matters for research.
How to Research a Nonprofit Before You Donate
A practical guide to evaluating a nonprofit before giving. Learn how to check tax-exempt status, read financial data, and spot red flags, all using free public data.
990-PF vs 990: What's the Difference?
Private foundations file a 990-PF, not a regular 990. Here's what's different, why it matters, and how to find the data you need from each form type.