Michigan State University Libraries

990-PF Finding Tools

Every private foundation in the U.S. is required to submit a 990-PF to the IRS each year. This document provides fiscal data for the foundation, names of trustees and officers, application information, and a complete grants list. While some larger foundations may produce annual reports and post information on the web, the overwhelming majority do not. For smaller and medium sized foundations, the 990-PF may be the only free source where one can find such grant lists.

How current is the 990-PF?

The typical deadline for submitting a 990-PF to the IRS is six months after the foundation’s fiscal year. Then the IRS has to process the form and scan it. So if a foundation’s fiscal year ending on Dec. 31st, you could very well have to wait until the fall of the following year to actually see the return on the Internet. Many foundations also routinely request a three-month extension, and sometimes a second one.

Where can one go to find 990-PFs?

Many of you are familiar with Guidestar, which routinely posts information about all the nonprofits in the U.S., including private foundations. However, Guidestar has recently required users to register to receive ids and passwords. While still free, Guidestar has become a little more aggravating to use, and some archival information is restricted to paid users.

Try the following sources instead :

Foundation Center’s 990 Finder
http://tfcny.fdncenter.org/990s/990search/esearch.php
(Last checked 05/01/08)

If you are visiting a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection like the MSU Main Library, you can also access 990-PF returns via:

Foundation Directory Online Professional
Available in Main Library
According to the Foundation Center, The Foundation Directory Online Professional is our "next-generation" service tier that provides Subscribers with access to an unprecedented wealth of timely, comprehensive information on grantmakers and their grants. You'll find detailed profiles of over 92,000 U.S. grantmakers...with records for more than 1.3 million recently awarded grants! Work smarter—and faster—to find the funds you need. Professional lets you keyword-search across more than 447,000 IRS 990s for grantmaking organizations. With unique funder portfolios of news, RFPs, key staff affiliations, and color-coded grant distribution charts. Professional is the best choice for successful grantseekers.
(Last checked 05/01/08)

Here's another source:

NOZA 990-PF Search Engine
http://www.noza990pf.com/
NOZA is proud to provide free access to this database of 990-PF tax returns. This project was started several years ago by Grantsmart and contains publically-available data received from the IRS.
(Last checked 05/01/08)

For more information about the 990-PF, see Demystifying the 990-PF , a free Foundation Center online tutorial providing an overview of the content, accessibility, and value of Form 990-PF, the tax return filed by private foundations.
(Last checked 05/01/08)

Generic 990-PF Form
http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990pffly.pdf
(Last checked 05/01/08)

990 FAQS
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/section_3a.html
(Last checked 05/01/08)

Historians note: For over twenty-five years, the MSU Libraries received copies of 990-PF aperture cards for every private foundation in Michigan. These are available in the MSU Funding Center for anyone interested in doing historical research.

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Ownership Statement Jon Harrison : Page Editor Funding Center Supervisor Social Sciences Collections Coordinator Michigan State University Libraries 100 Library E. Lansing, MI 48824-1048 Last revised 05/01/08

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