Understanding the IRS 990 Form
- How to Read the IRS Form 990 and Find Out What it MeansFinancial information available on nonprofit groups is usually in the form of an IRS 990 form. However, how do you read and understand such information? This clearly written and illustrated webpage will definitely help. Peter Swords, former Executive Director of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, wrote it with the assistance of Victoria Bjorklund of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Jon Small, Executive Director of NPCC, so it is reliable as well as useful.
Form 990 is an annual reporting return that many federally tax-exempt organizations must file with the Internal Revenue Service. Because it records information on the filing organization's mission, programs, and finances, it is a very useful document for understanding and evaluating a nonprofit organization.
- Demystifying the 990-PFAlthough the Foundation Center has little open access material, this guide--multiple screens that you step through--is useful for understanding the 990.
- Introducing Form 990: Tax Forms for NonprofitsThis excerpt from Nonprofit Law & Governance For Dummies provides a short, sweet summary of what it is and who needs to file one.
- Form 990 Instructions and Background DocumentsAnd for official information from the Internal Revenue Service, take a look at this page and its associated documents.
