We are a small nonprofit that takes in less than $50,000 a year. Based on your view that the Form 990 tax information return is a public relations vehicle, I assume that you think we should file the full 990. Correct? —From the Webinar.
It depends. There is an old saying to the effect that if people think you are stupid, it is better to keep your mouth shut than talk a lot and prove it.
Similarly with the 990-N post card return. I doubt that I would file a full 990 to show that I had spent $19,000 and held two “educational programs” on wine tasting attended by 37 people.
On the other hand, I might use the full 990 if I spent $19,000 but had 150 volunteers who held six clean up days where we got rid of 15 abandoned cars and picked five tons of trash out of our local river and streams. Or if we had a dozen volunteers who put out a free daily newsletter about the local government and the school district for our town of 60,000 people that saw its only newspaper fold up during Covid, especially if, among other things, we caused the Mayor to resign when we exposed his stealing and caused the school district to add new courses in civics and STEM.
If you have something to crow about, crow.
If not, the 990-N is a whole lot easier.
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