Nonprofit Data Lists
How to find nonprofit data using IRS organization records and searchable 990 filings
Nonprofit research can feel fragmented. Some information lives in government databases, some in financial filings, and some across separate tools that are not always easy to connect.
This page brings those resources together in one place. It shows you how to find nonprofit data lists, verify tax-exempt organizations, and explore public financial filings using two of the most trusted and transparent sources available today.
Whether you are researching a nonprofit, building outreach lists, evaluating financials, or verifying tax-exempt status, this page gives you a clear starting point.
Nonprofit Research Tools You Can Use Today
If you are researching a nonprofit organization, evaluating financial filings, building outreach lists, or verifying tax-exempt status, two public resources stand out for transparency and depth.
• ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer
• The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File Extract, also called EO BMF
Below is a clear overview of what each tool offers, when to use it, and how to get the most value from both.
ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer
ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer lets you browse millions of annual returns filed by tax-exempt organizations. You can view details like executive compensation, revenue, expenses, and more. You can search by organization name, EIN, person, keyword, or even full text within filings.
Go to: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/
When it is most useful
• Quickly review a nonprofit’s Form 990 or 990-PF
• Search filings for specific terms like grants, vendors, or compensation
• Compare year-over-year trends
Quick tips for better searches
• Use the EIN when possible for precise results
• Try fewer words if the organization name is long
• Use full-text search when researching grants, programs, or investments
The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File (EO BMF)
The IRS publishes the Exempt Organizations Business Master File Extract, a downloadable dataset drawn from the IRS Business Master File. It contains the most recent information the IRS has for each registered tax-exempt organization.
Source: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-business-master-file-extract-eo-bmf
As of November 15, 2025, the EO BMF contained over 1,923,040 active tax-exempt organization records across the United States.
What the EO BMF is best for:
• Building broad, state-based nonprofit lists
• Verifying basic organization records at scale
• Supporting research, analytics, and internal databases
• Creating nonprofit directories or market maps
Important notes about the EO BMF:
• Files are provided in CSV format and organized by state and region
• State and region are based on the filing address and generally reflect headquarters location
• Records are sorted by EIN
Important Notice
We are not affiliated with ProPublica or the Internal Revenue Service. We do not prepare, manage, or modify IRS filings or EO BMF data. All data, updates, and definitions come directly from the IRS and ProPublica.
If you have questions about EO BMF contents, posting dates, or definitions, please refer to the documentation on the IRS website.
State-by-State Download Links on the IRS Website
For convenience, we have included direct links below to the IRS EO BMF website for each state. These downloads allow you to access the official tax-exempt organization records for each state directly from the Internal Revenue Service.
The files are grouped alphabetically for easier navigation.
| States A-K | States L-N | States O-W |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Louisiana | Ohio |
How to Use Both Tools Together
Think of these two tools as doing different but complementary jobs.
The IRS EO BMF gives you the full landscape. It is where you go when you want to see the universe of registered tax-exempt organizations, build your own lists, or understand what exists across a state, region, or sector.
ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer gives you the story behind each organization. It is where you explore financials, leadership, compensation, grants, and trends over time for a specific nonprofit.
Used together, they give you both breadth and depth.
• Start with the IRS EO BMF when you want to discover or map organizations at scale
• Move to ProPublica when you want to understand any one organization more deeply
This approach lets you research responsibly, make informed decisions, and engage with the nonprofit sector in a thoughtful and transparent way.
At Foundation List, our goal is to make nonprofit information more accessible so that funders can fund better, organizations can grow stronger, and people doing meaningful work can connect with the resources and partners they need.
We hope these tools help you explore, understand, and support the work that matters to you.
Direct Links to Nonprofit Data
• ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/
• IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File (EO BMF)
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-business-master-file-extract-eo-bmf
• IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search
Legal and Data Disclosure
This page is provided for general informational and educational purposes only.
Foundation List does not create, control, or maintain the data referenced on this page. All nonprofit records, filings, and datasets are provided directly by third parties, including the Internal Revenue Service and ProPublica. We do not verify, audit, guarantee, or warrant the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of any external data.
Nothing on this page should be considered legal, financial, tax, or compliance advice. Users should consult qualified professionals or the original data providers for guidance specific to their situation.
Data availability, accuracy, and update schedules are determined by the original publishers and may change over time.
By using this page, you acknowledge that you are responsible for how you interpret and use the information provided and that Foundation List is not liable for any decisions or outcomes resulting from its use.
Our goal is simply to make nonprofit information more accessible, transparent, and easier to navigate in support of the social good.