What is Fiscal Sponsorship?

A relationship between a

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

(Sponsor) and a project

(Sponsoree) which provides the

Sponsoree the benefit of the

Sponsor’s tax-exempt status.

Why Might a Film Project

Need a Fiscal Sponsor?

Fundraising

Credibility

Technical Assistance

Awaiting 501(c)(3) IRS determination

(nonprofit status) of their own.

Why Not Form a Nonprofit?

Is this a single film or is it intended

to serve a broader mission for public good?

Answerable to Board of Directors,

not Staff.

Time and expense of filing and maintaining

status – would you rather be focused on

producing and distributing your film?

Models of Fiscal Sponsorship

Model A: Direct Project

Model B: Independent Contractor Project

Model C: Pre-Approved Grant Relationship

Model D: Group Exemption

Model E: Supporting Organization

Model F: Technical Assistance

For more details on different models of Fiscal Sponsorship, read

Fiscal Sponsorship: 6 Ways to Do It Right by Gregory Colvin

(available on Amazon and at the Foundation Center Library)

Model C Fiscal Sponsorship

The Project applies to become Sponsored,

by sending a “grant application” to the

Sponsor.

Once accepted, the Project becomes a

“grantee” of the Sponsor, allowing it to

request funds through the Sponsor under

the terms of their agreement.

Model C Fiscal Sponsorship

Fiscal

Sponsor

Funder

Arts

Project

Responsibilities Under Model C

Who Is Responsible for… Fiscal

Sponsoree

Fiscal

Sponsor

Maintaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit status X

Fundraising, including writing grants

or seeking individual donors

X

Handling donations directly from

grant-makers or donors

X

Completing tax returns for the project X

Paying employment taxes for the project X

Disbursing funds to entity other than fiscal

sponsoree

X

Legal liabilities to manage grant funds X X

Other Legal Liabilities for Project X

Autonomy Under Model C

Who… Fiscal

Sponsoree

Fiscal

Sponsor

Owns the rights to the project? X (X)

Has creative control X (X)

Has control over disbursement of funds

received from donors or grant-makers

X

Has the right to terminate the relationship (X) X

Business Identity of Project

Unless otherwise specified by the Fiscal

Sponsor Agreement, the sponsored project

could be undertaken by a sole proprietor,

a business corporation or partnership, or

another nonprofit organization.

Fiscal Sponsorship Does

Not Absolve Sponsorees of

Tax Obligations!

What is a Fiscal Sponsor

Looking for In a Project?

Project is non-profit in nature.

Project matches Sponsor’s

mission and guidelines.

Read the Guidelines!

WIFV

Women

Make

Movies

What is a Fiscal Sponsor

Looking for In a Project?

Project is non-profit in nature.

Project matches Sponsor’s

mission and guidelines.

Project has been well-thought out

enough (in writing!) to be fundable

and achievable.

What does “fundable” mean?

What is a Fiscal Sponsor

Looking for In a Project?

Project is non-profit in nature.

Project matches Sponsor’s

mission and guidelines.

Project has been well-thought out

enough (in writing!) to be fundable

and achievable.

Project manager has realistic

expectations of Fiscal Sponsor.

15 Things You Should

Look for in a Fiscal Sponsor

1. Do they sponsor projects like yours?

2. Which fiscal sponsorship model do they

follow?

3. Do they provide clear guidelines and

sample agreements?

4. What is their track record?

5. Do they have credibility within the

funding community?

15 Things You Should

Look for in a Fiscal Sponsor

6. Do they offer other services or technical

support?

7. What is their turnaround time for

reviewing your application?

8. What is their process for reviewing your

application?

9. What fees do they charge?

Membership? Application?

Maintenance? Administrative?

15 Things You Should

Look for in a Fiscal Sponsor

10. What is their process for accepting and informing you of individual donations?

11. How often do they pay out disbursements?

12. What are the reporting requirements?

13. What requirements do they have for you to maintain your Fiscal Sponsorship?

14. Do they require exclusivity?

15. How responsive are they?

Where to find a Fiscal Sponsor?

Online Resources: Fiscal Sponsorship

Directory, Foundation Center, etc.

Funding Research

Organizations with Compatible Missions

(they won’t always have a formal Fiscal

Sponsorship program)

Film Organizations, including us…

About WIFV and

Docs In Progress Fiscal

Sponsorship Programs

Some current sponsorees DOCS IN

PROGRESS

The New Woman:

Annie

“Londonderry”

Kopchovsky

by Gillian Willman

We’re Not Broke

by Karin Hayes

and Victoria Bruce

The Peace

Agency

by Sue Useem

Refrigerator

Ladies: the

Remarkable

Untold Story of

the ENIAC

Programmers

by Kathy Kleiman

WOMEN IN FILM

AND VIDEO

Chinatown

Documentary

by Yi Chen

Keter Betts

by Ada Babino

The Last Song

Before the War

by Kiley

Kraskouskas

Guardians of the

Everglades

by Connie

Bransilver

Questions?