Enter a 9-digit EIN to instantly verify tax-exempt status, 501(c)(3) classification, recent Form 990 filings, and financial data.
Find EINs on IRS.gov or the organization's website
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Verify tax-deductible status for donors
Check nonprofit status before granting
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify a tax-exempt organisation. Every US nonprofit, charitable foundation, and tax-exempt entity has one. An EIN lookup lets you verify that an organisation's EIN is valid, confirm its 501(c)(3) status, and check its basic registration details — all from public IRS records.
Our free tool queries the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer database, which aggregates IRS data on over 1.8 million tax-exempt organisations. You'll see the organisation's legal name, location, deductibility classification, and foundation type. This is the same publicly available information used by grant-makers, major donors, and compliance officers to verify nonprofits before awarding funds.
For donors, confirming 501(c)(3) status before giving ensures your donation is tax-deductible. The IRS only allows deductions for contributions to organisations that hold current 501(c)(3) status — and that status can be revoked if an organisation fails to file required returns for three consecutive years. Approximately 275,000 organisations lost their tax-exempt status in 2011 alone when the IRS began automatic revocation for non-filers.
For grant-makers and foundations, EIN verification is a baseline due diligence step. Most private foundations and corporate giving programmes require valid 501(c)(3) status as a minimum eligibility criterion. Without it, grants to an organisation may not count as "qualifying distributions" under IRS rules — creating tax liability for the foundation.
EINs are also used throughout the grant application process: on IRS Form W-9, on federal grant applications through Grants.gov, and on fiscal sponsorship agreements. Having your EIN correct and your status current is essential infrastructure for any nonprofit seeking funding.
Nonprofits are required to make their EIN publicly available. You can find it on the organisation's IRS determination letter, on any Form W-9 they've issued, on their annual Form 990 (which is public), on their website (often in the footer or "donate" page), or directly on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool at apps.irs.gov.
501(c)(3) is the most common tax-exempt classification and covers charitable, religious, educational, and scientific organisations. Donations to 501(c)(3) organisations are tax-deductible for donors. Other classifications like 501(c)(4) (social welfare organisations), 501(c)(6) (trade associations), and 501(c)(7) (social clubs) are also tax-exempt but donations to them are generally not deductible. Always check the specific classification when confirming deductibility.
The deductibility field indicates whether charitable contributions to the organisation are tax-deductible under IRS rules. "Contributions are deductible" means the organisation holds 501(c)(3) status and donations can be claimed as charitable deductions on US federal tax returns. If the field shows anything else, verify directly with the IRS before claiming a deduction.
Yes. The IRS automatically revokes 501(c)(3) status if an organisation fails to file required annual returns (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N) for three consecutive years. Status can also be revoked for violations of private benefit rules, political campaign intervention, or other compliance failures. Organisations can apply for reinstatement, but this can take months. Our tool reflects current IRS data — always verify status before making significant gifts or grants.
Our tool uses the same underlying IRS data as the official IRS search (apps.irs.gov/app/eos), sourced through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. The official IRS tool is more comprehensive for edge cases and recently updated statuses. For critical grant decisions or legal purposes, we recommend cross-referencing with the official IRS tool. Our tool is designed for quick, everyday verification.
Yes, for most formal grant applications. Private foundation grants, federal grants (Grants.gov), and many corporate giving programmes require a valid EIN. Organisations without an EIN — such as grassroots groups or informal collectives — often need to work with a fiscal sponsor (a registered 501(c)(3) that receives and administers funds on their behalf). If you don't yet have an EIN, you can apply for one for free through the IRS website.
An EIN is the identifier behind US nonprofit verification, Form 990 research, fiscal sponsorship checks, and many grant applications. FundRobin turns basic tax ID lookup into a faster due diligence step for funders and grant-seeking teams.
Names change, chapters share similar branding, and fiscal sponsors may administer funds for informal groups. Searching by EIN reduces ambiguity because it ties your research to a specific legal entity in IRS and public filing data.
Many funders request an EIN on applications, W-9 forms, and due diligence documents. Keeping the correct EIN, status, and filing history together reduces errors before a deadline and helps teams prepare compliant submissions.
FundRobin brings discovery, fit scoring, proposal drafting, documents, and follow-up into one customer workflow so teams can act on funding intelligence instead of copying it between tools.
Deepen your knowledge with our expert guides
How grant-makers use EIN data as a strategic intelligence tool — turning basic tax ID verification into funder research, prospect scoring, and portfolio analysis.
A deep dive into reading Form 990s to identify foundation giving patterns, programme officer priorities, and grant size sweet spots for your organisation.