Research on Non-Profits with GuideStar

By Anonymous -
When doing research on non-profits, I often check GuideStar.org. GuideStar provides data on more than 1.5 million non-profit organizations. When you search the GuideStar database without registering, you find a non-profit by its name, city, and state. You'll see its NTEE (National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities) code, and whether contributions to it are tax deductible.

If you register (for free), however, you get much more, including:
  • Address
  • Mission and program descriptions
  • Goals and results
  • Three most recent Forms 990 received from the IRS* for an organization
  • Any documents a nonprofit has posted through the eDocs service
*Form 990 is an annual reporting return that certain federally tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. It provides information on the filing organization's mission, programs, and finances.

If you're looking to work with a non-profit or thinking about donating to an organization, GuideStar.org can help you become better-informed, and make more effective decisions.

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