nonprofits and charities

Nonprofit organizations that have been granted exemption from federal income taxes and that have annual receipts of $25,000 or more must file annual "form 990" financial reports with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. 

These nonprofits include educational and charitable organizations, sometimes referred to as 501(c)(3)'s (a reference to the section of the Internal Revenue Code governing these organizations).

The form 990 reports to the IRS list a nonprofit's address, its officers and directors and their salaries, and information on its types of income and how it spent its funds.

The form 990s can be obtained through the public information office of the IRS, but that process can take a long time.

The law also requires that any organization with tax-exempt status provide a copy of its form 990 for inspection by any member of the public who requests it.

So you can go to the office of a tax-exempt organization and request to see a copy of its form 990. They cannot charge you for looking at the form, but they can request payment for making photocopies.