How to Research a Michigan Nonprofit: A Practical Guide to ProPublica, GuideStar, and IRS Data

Whether you're a potential donor, a journalist, a board candidate, or a grant writer, knowing how to look up a Michigan nonprofit's financial information is a fundamental civic skill. The data is public — the IRS requires it — but navigating the tools takes a few minutes to learn. This guide walks through every major tool and what each one is best for.

Step 1: Start With ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer is the most accessible starting point. Search by organization name, EIN, location, or NTEE category. Results include total revenue, expenses, and assets for recent years; number of employees; top officer compensation; links to full 990 PDFs; NTEE classification; and filing history going back to the early 2000s.

Best for: Quick overviews, comparing multiple organizations, accessing recent 990 PDFs. Limitation: 990-N filers (organizations under $50,000/year) don't appear in full form — see our piece on the 990-N gap.

Step 2: Use IRS TEOS for Official Records

The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) is the official government database. Use it to verify current tax-exempt status, check whether status has been revoked, download 990 filings directly from the IRS, and look up an organization's original determination letter. If someone claims their organization is a nonprofit but TEOS shows no record, proceed carefully.

Step 3: Check Candid / GuideStar for Richer Profiles

Candid (which operates GuideStar) aggregates IRS data with organization-reported information: mission statements, program descriptions, DEI data, leadership bios, and strategic plans. A free account gives access to basic profiles; paid tiers unlock full financials and sector benchmarking. Best for: Understanding what an organization actually does, due diligence for major gifts, foundation grant research.

Step 4: Read the 990 Itself

The Form 990 is a remarkable public document. Once you find a PDF on ProPublica or TEOS, here's where to look:

• Part I (Summary): Total revenue, expenses, net assets, employees and volunteers. Quick health check.
• Part VII (Compensation): Officer and director compensation. Out-of-line CEO pay relative to organizational size is flagged here.
• Part IX (Functional Expenses): Programs vs. administration vs. fundraising. Key signal of organizational efficiency.
• Schedule B: Major donors (names redacted, amounts included). Shows how concentrated revenue is.
• Schedule L: Transactions with interested persons. Flags related-party transactions.
• Schedule O: Supplemental narrative. Where organizations explain unusual items.

You don't need an accounting background to read a 990 usefully. Ten minutes with any filing puts you ahead of most people asking about that organization.

Step 5: Check Michigan State Records

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Charitable Trust Section maintains records for nonprofits registered to solicit funds in Michigan. Organizations raising funds from the public here are required to register, and annual financial reports are available on the LARA website.

Putting It Together: A Practical Example

Evaluating a food bank serving Kalamazoo County before donating:

• Search on ProPublica — check 3-year revenue trend, expense ratio, CEO compensation relative to org size.
• Verify current exempt status on IRS TEOS.
• Pull the most recent 990 PDF and check Part IX: what percentage goes to programs vs. administration?
• Check Candid for mission description and any self-reported transparency disclosures.
• Search LARA to confirm Michigan solicitation registration.

This process takes about 20 minutes and gives you a solid foundation for any giving decision. For aggregate nonprofit data by sector across Michigan Signals counties, see the Education & Nonprofits section on any county dashboard and our methodology page.

Data Sources

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: projects.propublica.org/nonprofits
• IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: apps.irs.gov/app/eos
• Candid / GuideStar: candid.org
• Michigan LARA Charitable Trust Section: michigan.gov/lara