990 Data & Research

Search 990 Filings to Find Your Next Funder

Northstar Toolkit gives you searchable access to IRS 990 filing data going back to 2010. Analyze foundation giving patterns, identify aligned funders, and research nonprofit financials.

The Problem with the Status Quo

Most nonprofits work around these challenges every day. Northstar Toolkit is built to solve them.

Scattered 990 Data

IRS 990 data is spread across multiple government sites and databases. Finding a specific foundation's giving history means navigating clunky interfaces and downloading raw PDFs.

Today: Researchers manually check IRS TEOS, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, or GuideStar — often downloading individual PDFs to find giving amounts.

No Easy Way to Analyze Giving Patterns

Raw 990 data shows single-year snapshots. Understanding a funder's priorities, trends, and typical grant sizes requires comparing filings across multiple years.

Today: Researchers create their own spreadsheets from downloaded 990s, manually entering data to track year-over-year patterns.

Connecting Data to Action

Finding 990 data is one thing — using it to write a stronger application is another. Research insights need to flow directly into your grant proposals.

Today: Research stays in separate files and notes. Grant writers reference it manually when drafting applications.

Searchable 990 Filing Database

Access structured 990 data with filing history back to 2010. Search by organization name, EIN, location, or giving focus area. See trends across years, not just single snapshots.

  • 10+ years of IRS 990 filing history (data since 2010)
  • Search by name, EIN, geography, or focus area
  • 50+ data columns per entity for detailed analysis
  • Foundation giving patterns and grant recipient data
  • Nonprofit financial health indicators
  • Direct connection to grant writing workflow

Riverside Community Foundation

Sacramento, CAEIN: 941234567
Strong Match
$42.3M
Total Giving
$65K
Avg Grant Size
651
Total Grants
AI Analysis

The Riverside Community Foundation shows strong alignment with community-focused organizations in the Pacific Northwest. Their emphasis on equity and local impact suggests excellent potential for partnership.

Strengths & Alignments

  • Focus on community development aligns well with your mission.
  • History of multi-year funding relationships.

Considerations

  • Competitive with a 15% acceptance rate.

Everything You Need in One Platform

Funder Search & Alignment

Go beyond raw 990 data. Search funders by focus area and see AI-powered alignment scoring based on your organization's programs.

  • Filter foundations by giving focus and geography
  • Alignment scoring based on your org profile
  • Save and track promising funders

Research-to-Draft Pipeline

Funder research flows directly into your grant applications. Insights from 990 analysis become evidence in your proposals.

  • Funder data available during AI-assisted drafting
  • Cite giving history and priorities in applications
  • Evidence library stores research across grants

How Northstar Compares

What sets Northstar Toolkit apart from other solutions.

vs ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Northstar connects 990 research directly to your grant writing workflow — research and write in the same platform.

See Northstar in action
vs GuideStar / Candid

Northstar includes AI-powered grant drafting alongside 990 data, so research insights flow directly into applications.

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vs IRS TEOS

Northstar provides structured, searchable 990 data with multi-year analysis — not raw PDF downloads.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free 990 finder?

The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) provides free access to 990 filings, but data is unstructured and hard to analyze. Northstar Toolkit provides structured, searchable 990 data with multi-year analysis, plus direct integration with grant writing tools. Try it free for 7 days.

How far back does the 990 data go?

Northstar Toolkit includes IRS 990 filing data going back to 2010, giving you over a decade of giving history to analyze foundation patterns and priorities.

Can I search 990-PF filings for private foundations?

Yes. The platform includes data from 990 and 990-PF filings, allowing you to research both public charities and private foundations.

How does 990 data help with grant writing?

Understanding a funder's giving history helps you target aligned foundations and tailor your applications. Northstar connects funder research directly to your drafting workflow, so insights from 990 analysis appear when you're writing proposals.

Ready to Get Started?

Try Northstar Toolkit free for 7 days. Full platform access, 5 team seats included, starting at $79/mo billed annually.

7-day trial with full platform access. No credit card required.