January 19, 2005 | Read Time: 1 minute
Q. Where can I get a free list of all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with their Employer Identification Number numbers and their current status? Is there a directory available online?
A. The Internal Revenue Service has a list of registered charities available for a free download on its Web site. The catch: The information that it provides is far from comprehensive. You’ll find the charity’s name and address, and that’s about it.
You’ll find more comprehensive information about charities on GuideStar. Here you can look up charities by name, city, category, keyword, and so on, using the site’s advanced search function. But the free search function is not intended to provide you with a directory — GuideStar charges for that information. Familiarize yourself with the usage policy here and learn about reports that you can buy from GuideStar here.
