RFP: Form 990 Preparation, Filing, and Compliance Support
Issue Date: March 2, 2026
Questions Due: March 9, 2026
Proposals Due: March 16, 2026
Selection and Notification: March 23, 2026
Desired Start Date: As soon as practical after selection, no later than April 1, 2026
Desired Filing Deadline: On or before the applicable IRS due date (including extensions, if needed) for the FY2025 Form 990
Organization Background
Social Venture Network (SVN) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose community includes impact‑driven leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors using business and capital to drive social and environmental change. SVN provides convenings, peer learning, and resources to help members build a just, regenerative, and sustainable economy.
Organization type: U.S. 501(c)(3) – equivalent charitable organization
Approximate annual revenue/budget: $100,000
Fiscal year end: December 31
SVN does not run payroll and has completed its FY2024 filing. We are now seeking a qualified CPA firm with nonprofit expertise to review our financials and supporting information and prepare, review, and e‑file our required IRS Form 990 returns for FY2025 and potentially future years.
Purpose and Values Alignment
The purpose of this RFP is to identify a firm to:
Prepare and e‑file SVN’s annual IRS Form 990 (or 990‑EZ/990‑N, as applicable)
Provide light advisory and compliance support throughout the year
Ensure full federal and applicable state compliance
SVN is a mission‑driven nonprofit with a small staff and volunteer leadership. We are seeking a firm that:
Has experience with small, budget-conscious nonprofits
Communicates clearly and proactively about scope, assumptions, timelines, and potential overages
Does not perform out‑of‑scope work without explicit approval
Is comfortable working with internal staff/volunteers who manage day‑to‑day bookkeeping
Shares values of transparency, accountability, and mission‑aligned work
Scope of Services
Form 990 determination and preparation
Determine correct Form 990 version (990-N, 990-EZ, or 990; 990‑PF is not expected to apply).
Prepare the appropriate Form 990 for the tax year ending December 31, 2025, including all required schedules.
Prepare any required state charity or tax filings related to the Form 990, if available as an add‑on service (please price separately).
Review financial statements and trial balance for consistency with Form 990 reporting requirements.
Compliance, advisory, and pre‑filing review
Provide guidance on maintaining good standing as a 501(c)(3) (public support, disclosures, etc.).
Review key governance and disclosure items, including:
Board/officer list
Governance policies (conflict of interest, whistleblower, etc.)
Related‑party transactions
Public support test and compensation disclosures
Identify and communicate material issues, missing information, or recommended adjustments prior to filing.
Provide practical recommendations to improve recordkeeping and documentation for future filings.
Offer up to 30 hours per year of additional support for routine Form‑990‑related finance or compliance questions (please specify pricing per hour).
Board/internal review process
Provide a draft Form 990 (PDF) for staff, committee, and board review prior to e‑filing.
Participate in one virtual meeting to walk through the draft 990 with leadership/board, if requested.
Incorporate agreed revisions and deliver the finalized return for e‑filing.
Filing and delivery
E‑file the Form 990 with the IRS and confirm acceptance.
Provide final copies (PDF) of the filed return and any state filings, plus an electronic copy of the e‑file confirmation.
Provide a brief management letter or email summary of key observations and recommendations (preferred).
Optional / as‑needed services (price separately unless already included)
Catch‑up or clean‑up bookkeeping limited to adjustments required to produce a reliable 990 submission (e.g., final balance sheet review, correcting classifications).
Assistance responding to IRS or state notices related to Form 990.
Advisory guidance on which Form 990 version is appropriate if organizational size changes in future years.
Please indicate:
Whether you offer these optional services
How they are scoped and priced
How you communicate and secure approval when such work becomes necessary
Information SVN will Provide
Assume SVN will provide at a minimum:
Year‑end financial statements and/or trial balance for the year ended December 31, 2025 (and bookkeeping records in QBO, if needed)
Prior‑year Forms 990 and any related correspondence, if available (FY2024 filing is complete)
Current board/officer list and governance policies relevant to the 990
Program descriptions and metrics needed for Part III and narrative schedules
Donation summaries, grant documentation, and any restricted funds information
If you typically require additional documents, please list them in your proposal and in your onboarding checklist.
Notes on SVN’s profile:
No payroll is currently operated.
No unrelated business income (UBIT) is anticipated, unless identified during your review.
Proposal Requirements
Please include the following in your proposal. Keep responses concise (bullet points acceptable; we are not seeking marketing materials, clarity is preferred).
A. Firm and team
Brief description of your firm and nonprofit practice
Approximate number of Form 990 clients (especially under $500k revenue)
Who will prepare vs review the return (roles and credentials)
Years of experience of the engagement lead with nonprofit filings
B. Approach and timeline
Your process for gathering information, drafting, reviewing, and finalizing Form 990
A typical documentation checklist you provide to clients
Expected turnaround time after complete documentation (we aim to file on or before the standard IRS due date, including extension if needed)
What commonly delays a 990 in organizations of our size
How you manage staff and board reviews and any virtual review meeting logistics
Your process for identifying, communicating, and obtaining approval for any scope changes or out‑of‑scope work
C. Fees
Fixed or flat fee for FY2025 Form 990 (note differences for 990-N / 990-EZ / full 990 if applicable)
Additional fees for related state filings (if offered)
What is included vs not included in the base fee
Hourly rates for additional work
Typical cost range if books require minor cleanup
Any discounts for a multi‑year engagement (e.g., committing to 3 years of filings).
D. Relevant Experience & References
Two nonprofit clients of similar size/complexity
One example of a common issue you helped a nonprofit resolve
Any areas where organizations like ours often encounter compliance risk
Timeline
RFP issued: March 2, 2026
Questions due: March 9, 2026
Proposals due: March 16, 2026
Selection and notification: March 23, 2026
Desired start date: As soon as practical after selection, no later than April 1, 2026
Desired filing deadline(s): On or before the applicable IRS due date (including extensions) for the FY2025 return
Evaluation criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
Demonstrated Form 990 and small‑nonprofit expertise
Clarity and practicality of your approach and your ability to meet our timeline
Quality of references and prior work with similar organizations
Total cost and overall value, including transparency around scope and potential overages
Submission
Please submit your proposal as a PDF by email to:
Chris Diplock
Finance Committee, Social Venture Network
Email: admin@svn.org
Proposals must be received by March 16, 2026. Questions about this RFP should be directed to Chris at the same email address by March 9, 2026.
We look forward to reviewing your proposal.
