January 6, 2026
The Impact Issue #94: How To Make The Most Of Your (And Your Funder’s) Form 990
Learn what your Form 990 should say about your organization.
A funder’s Form 990 can tell us a lot about them, including their giving history, funding priorities, average grant size, and so much more.
And the same can be said about your organization! Funders can use your Form 990 to learn about your nonprofit, so it better tell a complete story!
In this issue, we’ll offer tips and expert perspectives for checking in on your Form 990 and making sure it’s working for you. We’ll also highlight resources, grant opportunities, and educational events—all intended to help you level up your knowledge.
So settle in and welcome to The Impact.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Using Generic Language on Your Form 990
Just as you use Form 990s to learn about potential funders, they can also use them to help determine if you align with their priorities.
However, many nonprofits use generic language for their statement of program service accomplishments (Part III or in their Schedule O), specifically their organization’s mission and a summary of their three biggest achievements.
This could lead funders to believe you’re not a good fit, causing you to miss out on possible funding opportunities.
💡 Pointer: Treat Your Form 990 Like a Mini Grant Application
You should put your best foot forward when filling out your Form 990, and one way to do so is by treating it almost like a mini grant application.
Here’s how:
- Use an up-to-date mission statement. It may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure you’re using the most up-to-date mission statement. It should be clear, concise, and representative of the good work you’re doing. Don’t use the same year over year if your mission or work has evolved.
- Avoid jargon or vague statements, especially when it comes to your program descriptions. Instead, be specific about your accomplishments, program outcomes, and the impact that you had. Share numbers where you can to contextualize your reach.
- Fill out all required sections. The sections you need to fill out and the schedules you must provide vary based on the type of Form 990 you submit. If you don’t include all the required documentation, it can indicate a lack of organization and transparency.
📄 Explore Form 990 in more depth and what all nonprofits need to know!
Tech You Should Know
What:
Intuit QuickBooks is an online accounting software that can help you take control of your finances, allowing you to stay organized and make it easy for you to file your Form 990 at the end of your fiscal year.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Track expenses: You can see your expenditures and keep track of documentation, which will help with your taxes at the end of the year.
- Run reports: Export reports to insert into your grant applications with the click of a button. If you keep your expenses up to date, it will reflect your real-time finances.
- Connect with experts: Intuit has a team of experts on hand who can answer questions, interpret reports, and help you stay compliant with all regulations.
Keep in Mind:
- There are four subscription tiers, with different user numbers and features available. Some of the more personalized features, including AI and agent interactions, cost more.
- You can sign up for a 30-day free trial or check out TechSoup to get discounted subscription rates.
📊 Get your numbers in order with Intuit QuickBooks!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Fatima Chase on Using Your Form 990 to Attract Donors
Fatima Chase, Senior Tax Manager at PFK of Texas, knows that your nonprofit’s Form 990 can be a secret weapon.
While you might be tempted to do the bare minimum on your required tax documents, you’ll miss out on an opportunity to tell your story. When you fill it out correctly, the form can even be used to passively share information with potential funders and donors—without you even knowing it!
Here’s her expert advice:
- Use the schedule for supplemental information. There’s limited space on page two of the Form 990, but you can put additional information in the schedule. Use the initial space for the most important information, then leverage the schedule for additional context.
- Back your statements up with numbers and data. Share relevant statistics about your reach and impact. This could include how many constituents you served, the percentage you were able to increase test scores, or the rate at which you reduced homelessness. These will get the reader’s attention.
- Be transparent. Form 990s are a great way to demonstrate trust and show that you’re a good steward of funds. Don’t just share your expenses. Tie them to how they’re being used to conduct programs. That way, you can clearly link their potential funding to program impact.
👀 Watch Fatima on the Entrepreneur’s Playbook to learn more about making the most of 990s!
🎁 A Gift for You 🎁
Nonprofit organization charts often come in handy when you least expect them—including for your Form 990.
If you don’t already have one, we pulled together Nonprofit Organizational Chart Templates that you can leverage to illustrate your nonprofit’s governance. When you use one of the templates, you’ll be able to clearly visualize and communicate your nonprofit’s structure.
Opportunities Spotlight
🌟 Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits
Who It’s For: Nonprofits focused on human rights, girls' and women's empowerment, and/or LGBTQ+ causes with less than $400,000 in annual revenue.
Next Deadline: March 14, 2026
Grant Amount: $20,000
The Details:
Cause Strategy Partners invests in small nonprofits to help build capacity within organizations and scale operations. Their grants focus on empowering organizations that serve populations in need, including women, girls, and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as supporting human rights. Organizations can use this one-time grant to enhance business functions, amplify communications, update technology, improve training, and more.
🌙 Lumena Foundation Moon Grant
Who It’s For: U.S.-based, women-focused nonprofits
Next Deadline: March 31, 2026
Grant Amount: Up to $50,000
The Details:
The Lumena Foundation invests in women to amplify their impact. This unrestricted grant can be used to help scale, expand scope, build capacity, and more. Applications are expected to be available after Feb. 15 and should be submitted no later than March 31 for consideration.
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: Growing with Grants: Preparing to Win and Manage Federal Awards
Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 1-2:30 p.m. ET
Join the National Grants Management Association for a webinar on how to receive and manage federal grants. It will help you develop a proposal, understand the grant lifecycle, and set you up for success for the upcoming federal grants cycle.
Don’t miss out!
📅 Conference: GEO’s 2026 National Conference
June 1-3, 2026 | Boston, MA
Join Grantmakers for Effective Organizations at their annual conference. During the three-day conference, you’ll hear from expert grantmakers, collaborate with your peers, and learn how to strategically tackle some of the most common challenges nonprofit professionals face.
Hurry!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: 6 Types of 990 Forms Nonprofits File
There are multiple different kinds of Form 990. We’ve created a resource that breaks down the different types, including what information you may need to provide for each.
📼 Video: How to Analyze a Grant Funder Using 990 Insights
Instrumentl makes it easy for you to analyze a grant funder using 990 insights. Watch this quick tutorial to see everything you can learn and apply it to your own Form 990 journey.
🎙️ Podcast: Form 990: What Health Care Organizations Need to Know
Join the American Health Law Association as they explore everything health care organizations need to know about navigating Form 990s. The episode discusses why it’s important, how to complete it, and additional requirements.
Use Your Form 990 for Good
Your Form 990 is just as important as your funders’ Form 990s, so don’t be afraid to use its powers for good! You can do that by ensuring it showcases a complete and accurate picture of your organization.
Thankfully, Instrumentl can help. All you have to do is locate your organization, and …
- See what information it’s showing. Is it accurate? If not, take note of what you have to update for the next filing.
- Check your funding history. Are you seeing all your past grants? If not, your information may not be parsing correctly, which may mean you’re not filling it out correctly.
- Compare yourself to peers. You can compare your organization to others using their EIN to see how you stack up in terms of assets, revenue, grants, and more.
Form 990 insights can transform how to find and win more grants, but that’s just the start.
🎉 Sign up today for a free 14-day trial and see it for yourself!
100% Free Grant Writing Resources Straight to Your Inbox
