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Nonprofit organizations
have worked for years to improve
reporting of nonprofit data to government regulators.
Leveraging these efforts, the Electronic Data Initiative
for Nonprofits (EDIN) was created as a two-year, grant-funded national collaborative to promote
electronic filing of the 990s as a means to improve the quality and access
to accurate, timely information on nonprofit organizations.
Strategies & Goals
In coordination with national and state associations
of nonprofit organizations, foundations, and
professional accountants, EDIN:
- Advocated for full financial
and institutional support within the federal government
for the IRS Modernized E-file Program;
- Worked closely with the IRS,
state charity offices, software developers, and
accountants to ensure a smooth transition to Form 990
e-filing;
- Encouraged software developers
to provide Form 990 e-filing software;
- Educated nonprofit managers
and accountants about the benefits of and resources
needed to e-file the Form 990;
- Encouraged federal and state
government officials to coordinate reporting and
sharing of information;
and
- Advocated for federal support
of a comprehensive, accessible national database of
information on nonprofit organizations.
Who
Housed at and administered by INDEPENDENT
SECTOR, EDIN has been guided by a Steering
Committee led by INDEPENDENT
SECTOR, the Council
on Foundations, GuideStar,
National
Council of Nonprofit Associations and OMB
Watch. The
Urban Institute's National Center for Charitable Statistics
and Surdna
Foundation served as advisors.
Funders included the Carnegie
Corporation of New York, Ford
Foundation,
W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The
David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Rockefeller
Brothers Fund, and
Surdna
Foundation. Members
of the
EDIN Coalition included state associations
of nonprofit organizations, accounting firms and others
with an interest in improving accountability of the
nonprofit sector through online technology.
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