How do you obtain financial info on tax free 501 c corporations like pay, travel expenses etc? I like to have this info before making donations.

First it is hard, all corporations have to file with their state but this is often very limited. You need to check with the Attorney General office of the state where they operate. Also check with the Better Business Bureu in their area. But in the end,often finding how much they pay their employees and what percent of the money that actual goes to their chairty relief is hard to find.

Some of these may help



http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/charity1.htm


http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/charityfraud/resources.html

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/tmarkg/charity.htm

http://www.effingham.net/crimestoppers/charity.htm


I will give you an example, our Religious Order does all service work, we are Incorporated as a Non Profit Religious Church.

There are no records of what we pay or don't pay available without directly asking us.

Now with our group our religious brothers can not receive any pay from our group ( each is required to work in the world and pay all their own living expences) So beyond paying rent or building payments and utilities our group uses all of its donations directly to the service we provide. ( Prison ministry, Elderly Ministry, Street Ministry and so on)
At the Corporate level we have a large Elderly Ministry plus we help with supplies for African Missions ( no money is sent to Africa, only books and/or supplies

If the charity is big enough, it must file a 990 tax return where financial details lare outlined, and as far as I know 990's are on the internet as a matter of public record? I would suggest a Google search on the charity itself and/or 990 tax returns.