Oct 2, 2025
Form 990 Without Tears: What Boards Should Actually Review
If you serve on a nonprofit board, nothing drains the room faster than the words Form 990. It’s long. It’s technical. And it seems tailor-made to make even your most devoted finance committee member stare into space. But here’s the thing: Form 990 is so much more than a box you check for the IRS. It’s basically the story of your nonprofit. Not the most interesting story because it is told in numbers, governance details, and impact data but people DO READ IT!! Donors, journalists, watchdog groups, and even potential partners will all look at your 990 to decide if they trust and believe in your work. That’s why your board shouldn’t treat it as just another boring document but one of the most powerful tools you have to build credibility and show the world who you are.
Why the 990 Matters
It’s public. Anyone can look it up online, which means it shapes your nonprofit’s reputation.
It’s a trust-builder. Donors and funders use it to judge transparency and financial health.
It tells your story. Beyond the numbers, it includes sections where you describe your mission and accomplishments in plain English.
The Sections Worth Your Attention
Mission & Program Accomplishments
This is where you explain what your nonprofit does and why it matters. Does it sound like your organization today, or is it copy-pasted from ten years ago? This is your chance to shine.
Governance & Policies
Conflict of interest policies, whistleblower protections, and how executive pay is set — all of this shows outsiders whether you take accountability seriously.
Leadership Pay
Donors and journalists look here first. Are salaries in line with your size, budget, and sector norms? If you had to defend the numbers in a newspaper quote, could you?
Revenues & Expenses
How you earn and spend money tells a story. Are program expenses really the bulk of your budget, or do admin and fundraising eat up more than expected?
Fundraising
If you run galas, auctions, or races, this section shows whether they actually raise money after costs. Sometimes the 990 reveals events that look splashy but aren’t very efficient.
The 990 is more than a tax filing, it’s your nonprofit’s annual “report card” to the public. By paying attention to the sections that matter, you can protect your reputation, build donor trust, and ensure the story you’re telling the IRS is the same story you’re telling your community. It doesn’t have to be painful. With the right lens, Form 990 becomes not just compliance, but a communications tool.
If you serve on a nonprofit board, nothing drains the room faster than the words Form 990. It’s long. It’s technical. And it seems tailor-made to make even your most devoted finance committee member stare into space. But here’s the thing: Form 990 is so much more than a box you check for the IRS. It’s basically the story of your nonprofit. Not the most interesting story because it is told in numbers, governance details, and impact data but people DO READ IT!! Donors, journalists, watchdog groups, and even potential partners will all look at your 990 to decide if they trust and believe in your work. That’s why your board shouldn’t treat it as just another boring document but one of the most powerful tools you have to build credibility and show the world who you are.
Why the 990 Matters
It’s public. Anyone can look it up online, which means it shapes your nonprofit’s reputation.
It’s a trust-builder. Donors and funders use it to judge transparency and financial health.
It tells your story. Beyond the numbers, it includes sections where you describe your mission and accomplishments in plain English.
The Sections Worth Your Attention
Mission & Program Accomplishments
This is where you explain what your nonprofit does and why it matters. Does it sound like your organization today, or is it copy-pasted from ten years ago? This is your chance to shine.
Governance & Policies
Conflict of interest policies, whistleblower protections, and how executive pay is set — all of this shows outsiders whether you take accountability seriously.
Leadership Pay
Donors and journalists look here first. Are salaries in line with your size, budget, and sector norms? If you had to defend the numbers in a newspaper quote, could you?
Revenues & Expenses
How you earn and spend money tells a story. Are program expenses really the bulk of your budget, or do admin and fundraising eat up more than expected?
Fundraising
If you run galas, auctions, or races, this section shows whether they actually raise money after costs. Sometimes the 990 reveals events that look splashy but aren’t very efficient.
The 990 is more than a tax filing, it’s your nonprofit’s annual “report card” to the public. By paying attention to the sections that matter, you can protect your reputation, build donor trust, and ensure the story you’re telling the IRS is the same story you’re telling your community. It doesn’t have to be painful. With the right lens, Form 990 becomes not just compliance, but a communications tool.
If you serve on a nonprofit board, nothing drains the room faster than the words Form 990. It’s long. It’s technical. And it seems tailor-made to make even your most devoted finance committee member stare into space. But here’s the thing: Form 990 is so much more than a box you check for the IRS. It’s basically the story of your nonprofit. Not the most interesting story because it is told in numbers, governance details, and impact data but people DO READ IT!! Donors, journalists, watchdog groups, and even potential partners will all look at your 990 to decide if they trust and believe in your work. That’s why your board shouldn’t treat it as just another boring document but one of the most powerful tools you have to build credibility and show the world who you are.
Why the 990 Matters
It’s public. Anyone can look it up online, which means it shapes your nonprofit’s reputation.
It’s a trust-builder. Donors and funders use it to judge transparency and financial health.
It tells your story. Beyond the numbers, it includes sections where you describe your mission and accomplishments in plain English.
The Sections Worth Your Attention
Mission & Program Accomplishments
This is where you explain what your nonprofit does and why it matters. Does it sound like your organization today, or is it copy-pasted from ten years ago? This is your chance to shine.
Governance & Policies
Conflict of interest policies, whistleblower protections, and how executive pay is set — all of this shows outsiders whether you take accountability seriously.
Leadership Pay
Donors and journalists look here first. Are salaries in line with your size, budget, and sector norms? If you had to defend the numbers in a newspaper quote, could you?
Revenues & Expenses
How you earn and spend money tells a story. Are program expenses really the bulk of your budget, or do admin and fundraising eat up more than expected?
Fundraising
If you run galas, auctions, or races, this section shows whether they actually raise money after costs. Sometimes the 990 reveals events that look splashy but aren’t very efficient.
The 990 is more than a tax filing, it’s your nonprofit’s annual “report card” to the public. By paying attention to the sections that matter, you can protect your reputation, build donor trust, and ensure the story you’re telling the IRS is the same story you’re telling your community. It doesn’t have to be painful. With the right lens, Form 990 becomes not just compliance, but a communications tool.
If you serve on a nonprofit board, nothing drains the room faster than the words Form 990. It’s long. It’s technical. And it seems tailor-made to make even your most devoted finance committee member stare into space. But here’s the thing: Form 990 is so much more than a box you check for the IRS. It’s basically the story of your nonprofit. Not the most interesting story because it is told in numbers, governance details, and impact data but people DO READ IT!! Donors, journalists, watchdog groups, and even potential partners will all look at your 990 to decide if they trust and believe in your work. That’s why your board shouldn’t treat it as just another boring document but one of the most powerful tools you have to build credibility and show the world who you are.
Why the 990 Matters
It’s public. Anyone can look it up online, which means it shapes your nonprofit’s reputation.
It’s a trust-builder. Donors and funders use it to judge transparency and financial health.
It tells your story. Beyond the numbers, it includes sections where you describe your mission and accomplishments in plain English.
The Sections Worth Your Attention
Mission & Program Accomplishments
This is where you explain what your nonprofit does and why it matters. Does it sound like your organization today, or is it copy-pasted from ten years ago? This is your chance to shine.
Governance & Policies
Conflict of interest policies, whistleblower protections, and how executive pay is set — all of this shows outsiders whether you take accountability seriously.
Leadership Pay
Donors and journalists look here first. Are salaries in line with your size, budget, and sector norms? If you had to defend the numbers in a newspaper quote, could you?
Revenues & Expenses
How you earn and spend money tells a story. Are program expenses really the bulk of your budget, or do admin and fundraising eat up more than expected?
Fundraising
If you run galas, auctions, or races, this section shows whether they actually raise money after costs. Sometimes the 990 reveals events that look splashy but aren’t very efficient.
The 990 is more than a tax filing, it’s your nonprofit’s annual “report card” to the public. By paying attention to the sections that matter, you can protect your reputation, build donor trust, and ensure the story you’re telling the IRS is the same story you’re telling your community. It doesn’t have to be painful. With the right lens, Form 990 becomes not just compliance, but a communications tool.
Protect your non-profit today
Reach out to us to get covered and hear back in little time!
Protect your non-profit today
Reach out to us to get covered and hear back in little time!
Protect your non-profit today
Reach out to us to get covered and hear back in little time!
Protect your non-profit today
Reach out to us to get covered and hear back in little time!