Want to get an inside look at a nonprofit?

Unlike government agencies, many nonprofits aren’t subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, so getting information directly from them can be tricky.

But my fellow journalists, there’s a secret weapon: Form 990.

Although nonprofits don’t pay federal income tax, they are required to file annual reports with the IRS with details about their income and expenses.

Organizations like private schools, research institutions, charities, environmental activist groups – they all file Form 990s.

And those forms offer valuable insights into their financial activities and other information. that they may not just hand over.

So, how do you get to this information?

One way: just ask!

To meet transparency guidelines, 501(c)(3) organizations are generally obligated to provide you with a copy of if you request it.

And because organizations know the public has the right to this information, many nonprofits don’t wait for individual requests, they post the reports on their website.

There are also tools at your disposal like ProPublica’s  Nonprofit Explorer and Candid’s GuideStar. Visit, search, and download Form 990s.

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