01. Basic Information

1.1 What is the loca­tion of the organization’s head­quar­ters (address, phone, fax)?
1.2 What is the URL for the organization’s web page?
1.3 What is their Employer Identification Number?
1.4 What type of nonprofit is the organization?

The top of the front page of Form 990 contains the mailing address for the organization, as well as a web address. Other useful information includes the Employer Identification Number (EIN), and the name of the principal officer.  Line I of the 990 identifies which type of 501 (c) status the organization holds.

Candid, the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), and the Economic Research Institute all provide access to Form 990 as well as summary information on nonprofit organizations. Also check the New York Charities Bureau.

Basic information is also likely available on the organization’s web site. Spend some time and get to know the web site and become famil­iar with what infor­ma­tion is avail­able in its various sec­tions.