What is Fiscal Sponsorship?

Fiscal sponsorship is an arrangement between an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an individual or entity lacking the legal status needed to receive grants from foundations, individual donors and government agencies.

The fiscal sponsor agrees to provide administrative services and oversight to, and assume limited legal and financial responsibility for, the activities of groups or individuals engaged in work that furthers the fiscal sponsor’s mission, in this case, to champion creative independence in visual storytelling and support a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision.

The clearest, though not the only, benefit to participating in fiscal sponsorship is that individuals are able to access charitable funding for their project while forgoing the time consuming and expensive process of creating and running a 501(c)(3) organization themselves. This especially applies to independent artist for whom setting up a nonprofit for a particular project is rarely necessary.

Benefits

• Apply for grants and solicit tax deductible donations without becoming a 501(c)(3)

• Receive a one-on-one project consultation with an industry professional

• Sustained support throughout the lifecycle of your project

• Offer your donors a variety of ways to give to your project by check, online, credit card, crowdfunding campaigns and even matching gifts from employers

• Promote your project via your individualized online donation page

• Offer a tax incentive to your crowdfunding campaign donors

• Apply to specialized state and federal government grants like the National Endowment of the Humanities

• Nature Center collects a 3% administrative fee from contributions made to selected projects

Who Can Apply?

The program is open to independent film, theatre, visual arts and writing projects at any stage of development. Nature Center supports other types of projects and like-minded organizations that further our mission and are in the process of obtaining their 501(c)(3) status. Non-US applicants are welcome to apply.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:

• Project Description 

• Distribution and Marketing Strategy 

• Intended audience

• Key Creative Personnel (bios for each creative team member, list of attached advisers or consultants)

• Fundraising Strategy (overall fundraising strategy, funding to date)

• Budget

• Work Sample 

Please email all materials and we will respond within 5 business days.