Fiscal Sponsor Directory

The Fiscal Sponsor Directory is a resource guide that compiles organizations offering fiscal sponsorship services to independent artists and creative projects. Fiscal sponsorship allows actors and filmmakers to receive tax-deductible donations without forming their own nonprofit entity.

The directory lists organizations by region, discipline, and type of sponsorship offered, making it easy to find a fiscal sponsor that aligns with your project's goals. Each listing typically includes eligibility requirements, fee structures, and application processes.

Fiscal sponsorship is an increasingly important tool for actors who produce their own content or lead community arts initiatives. It opens doors to foundation grants and individual donations that would otherwise be inaccessible to for-profit entities.

Accessing the directory is free. Fiscal sponsorship fees vary by organization but typically involve an administrative percentage of funds received, ranging from five to fifteen percent.

Consult this directory when you are planning a creative project that requires fundraising from donors or grant-making foundations. Compare several sponsors before committing, as fee structures and service levels can vary significantly between organizations. The directory at fiscalsponsordirectory.org lists dozens of fiscal sponsorship organizations alphabetically and by region, providing a centralized starting point that saves hours of independent research into individual sponsor programs. Understanding the fiscal sponsorship landscape is increasingly important for actors who produce their own content, as many grants, foundation awards, and institutional funding sources require applicants to have nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsor in place.

Accessing the Fiscal Sponsor Directory itself is completely free, with no registration or fees required to browse listings, compare organizations, and access contact information for fiscal sponsors across the United States. Fiscal sponsorship fees vary significantly between organizations, typically ranging from five to fifteen percent of funds received, with most established sponsors charging between seven and ten percent as their standard administrative fee. Some sponsors charge flat annual membership fees in addition to percentage-based fees on funds raised, such as The Field which charges $110 per year plus a seven percent processing fee, or Fractured Atlas which charges a flat eight percent of funds received with no separate membership fee. NYFA charges eight percent on the first $500,000 raised, with decreasing percentages for higher amounts, plus a $150 contract fee and $150 annual renewal, making its fee structure more favorable for projects that raise larger sums. Intersection for the Arts, one of the oldest fiscal sponsors in the country based in San Francisco, charges a seven percent administrative fee on all funds received. When evaluating the cost of fiscal sponsorship, factor in the value of the services included beyond fund processing, as some sponsors provide fundraising consultation, grant writing support, donor management, and financial reporting that would cost significantly more if purchased independently.

The Fiscal Sponsor Directory is an essential starting point for any actor-producer who is planning to fundraise for an independent project, whether it is a short film, a one-person show, a documentary, or a community arts initiative that requires tax-deductible donation capacity. If you have a specific project with a clear fundraising goal and timeline, use the directory to identify three to five potential sponsors whose mission aligns with your work, then contact each one to compare terms, services, and artist experiences before making your selection. Actors who are in the early conceptual stages of a project and not yet ready to fundraise should still familiarize themselves with the directory and the fiscal sponsorship landscape, as understanding what is available will inform your project planning and budget development. If your project is specifically film or media-related, look for sponsors with experience in media projects like the International Documentary Association or Film Independent, as their networks and grant knowledge will be more targeted to your needs than a general arts sponsor. For very small projects with modest fundraising goals under $5,000, consider whether the administrative costs of fiscal sponsorship are justified, as platforms like GoFundMe or Seed&Spark provide simpler crowdfunding alternatives that do not require a fiscal sponsor, though donations through those platforms are not tax-deductible. Actors who have established a long-term creative practice with recurring project funding needs should eventually consider forming their own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as the ongoing percentage fees of fiscal sponsorship can exceed the cost of independent nonprofit administration once your fundraising reaches a certain scale.

Begin your fiscal sponsor search at least three to six months before you plan to start fundraising, as the application, review, and onboarding process for most sponsors takes weeks to months, and rushing this decision can lead to a poor fit that costs you money and creates administrative headaches. When contacting potential sponsors from the directory, ask specifically about their current fee structure, what services are included beyond fund processing, their average response time for questions and fund disbursements, and whether they have experience sponsoring projects similar to yours. Request references from other artists currently sponsored by each organization you are considering, and ask those artists about their real-world experience with communication, timeliness of fund disbursement, and the quality of any additional services promised. Before signing a fiscal sponsorship agreement, have the contract reviewed by an attorney, as these agreements contain important terms about intellectual property ownership, fund management, and termination conditions that can significantly affect your project if not properly understood. Keep detailed records of all funds raised and expenses incurred under your fiscal sponsorship, as you will need this documentation for your sponsor's required reporting and for your own tax records, and disorganized finances are the most common source of friction between artists and their fiscal sponsors. Once you have selected a fiscal sponsor, integrate their branding and donor acknowledgment requirements into your fundraising materials from the start, as donors need to know where to direct their tax-deductible contributions and foundations need to see your fiscal sponsor's nonprofit status confirmed in grant applications.