Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases tax returns from nonprofit organizations—specifically Forms 990, 990-EZ, and 990-PF. These returns offer a wealth of information about nonprofit financials, program activities, and fundraising. For community development professionals, watchdog groups, grant seekers, and policy advocates alike, this data is a goldmine. It can reveal who’s funding what, where gaps in service exist, and which organizations are making an impact.
But here’s the problem: it’s notoriously difficult to work with. Even if you manage to download the correct files from the IRS, transforming them into something usable can take weeks. As a result, many users turn to third-party vendors for cleaned-up versions. And even then, a question lingers: how do you actually put this data to work?
Too often, 990 data lives in its own silo, disconnected from the broader context of community needs. Not anymore.
In early June, we added IRS 990 data to the mySidewalk Data Library—and we’ve already seen users start building compelling stories with it. But we believe this is just the beginning.
Let’s walk through a real-world example of how 990 data can take your analysis from informative to actionable.
This case study is just one example. The applications of IRS 990 data are vast. mySidewalk 990 dataset includes 27 nonprofit activity types, categorized using NTEE codes—from food and housing to education, health, the arts, and beyond.
Whatever your area of focus, chances are there's a relevant nonprofit footprint you can analyze. Want to know who's working in early childhood education? The arts? Affordable housing? We've got you covered.
And you don't have to start from scratch. We've prepared a Data Guide and Report Template to help you hit the ground running.
If you're not yet integrating nonprofit investment data into your community analysis—but want to—let’s talk. Breaking down silos between financial activity and community needs is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward impact.