EINs: the fast and precise way to do charity and nonprofit research (including finding an IRS charity form 990)
Having the organization’s EIN (employer identification number) is the key to quick and exact research about a nonprofit or charity. Read How can I find an organization’s EIN?
Having the organization’s EIN will greatly speed up your search for its 990 or 990-EZ.
Find the 990 through the SGO database.
Use the SGO Find a Charity search engine. Go to its Report. Look at the “Key 990 Data” tab. Check the first row (Link to online return location) — if there’s a link there, click on the link and you’ll go to the latest 990 or 990-EZ that we’ve found. 
If the first row shows “Not Yet” — go to Step 2.
Check the Charity’s SGO Report “More Information” tab.
Stay within the charity’s SGO Report. On the “More Information” tab you should find a link to the National Center for Charitable Statistics page for the charity. Click on the link should take you to the NCCS page for the organization. From there go to the “Form 990 Filings” tab.
If there’s not a link already there, move on to 3 below.
Other search tools.
You are likely having a problem identifying the organization. The organization’s EIN is the key to finding its 990 or 990-EZ. Read the How can I find an organization’s EIN? page. Find the EIN and use the search tools listed below in the order listed:
1. National Center for Charitable Statistics
NCCS has a terrific search tool, and no registration is required. Just enter the charity’s EIN in the seventh row. Here’s what the NCCS search tool looks like:
Once you submit your request, you should get a page with the charity’s name showing as a link. Click on that link. You’ll go to a page that looks like the following. Click on the Form 990 Filings tab, and you’ll find a list showing the latest 990 carried by NCCS. Click on the link and the return will open.
2. GuideStar.org
Go to the GuideStar.org home page and enter the charity’s EIN in the search box. Using the site will require registration (it’s free).
Follow through to the Forms 990 & Docs tab, then click on the link to the latest return shown and the return will open.
How can I find an organization’s EIN number? M.White
Monika – Excellent question (we’ll write a FAQ about it).
Having an organization’s EIN is the key to quick and exact research about the organization.
A couple of immediate thoughts for you,
** You could get the EIN from the organization or its website or written fundraising materials. We encourage organizations to prominently show their EINs. Read more at: http://seriousgivers.org/show-your-eins/
** Go to the CharityCheck101.org directory search page. Follow the instructions there, searching based on the organization’s name. The “Goldilocks” name search (just right) will be neither too precise nor too vague. Every IRS-recognized nonprofit and charity can be found at CharityCheck101.org.
I hope you find this helpful. — Ed (aka Serious)
We’ve now added a FAQ on how to find an organization’s EIN.
Here’s a link: http://seriousgivers.org/question/how-can-i-find-an-organizations-ein/
We thank Monika for her question on this.
Ed (aka Serious)
I am the new treasurer of a 501c(3) organization. How do we get our organization’s 990-EZ information to appear on this website? The organization’s name and some information is on the website.
Jean – Thank you for your question. For SGO, it’s a question of limited available resources. Take a look at Data Entry Status section at the top of the organization’s SGO Report, and you’ll see where we stand generally on data entry. See also our answer to Tom’s Feb 17, 2013 question at this page: http://seriousgivers.org/find-a-charity/charities-found-here/
I hope you find this helpful.
Ed (aka Serious)
P.S. Don’t forget to check the organization’s report at http://charitycheck101.org/