Fractured Atlas
Fiscal sponsorship and business tools empowering independent artists
Overview
Fractured Atlas is a nonprofit organization that provides fiscal sponsorship, insurance, and business support services to independent artists and arts organizations. For actors producing their own work, it enables tax-deductible fundraising without the need to form a separate nonprofit entity.
Through fiscal sponsorship, artists can receive grants and tax-deductible donations for creative projects. Fractured Atlas handles the administrative and legal compliance, letting artists focus on their work rather than paperwork.
How It Works
The organization serves thousands of artists across disciplines and has facilitated millions of dollars in funding for independent projects. Its tools and resources help artists treat their careers as sustainable businesses.
Membership costs approximately $8 per month, which provides access to fiscal sponsorship eligibility, insurance options, and educational resources. Fiscal sponsorship itself involves an additional percentage fee on funds raised.
Who Uses It
Highly recommended for actors who produce their own projects and need to raise funds from donors or apply for grants. The fiscal sponsorship model removes significant administrative barriers to fundraising for creative work. Fractured Atlas also provides access to group insurance plans and discounted services that are otherwise unavailable to individual artists, adding tangible financial value beyond the fiscal sponsorship itself. The organization's educational resources, including webinars, guides, and one-on-one consultations, help artists develop the business skills necessary to sustain long-term creative careers.
Pricing & Plans
Fractured Atlas membership costs eight dollars per month or approximately ninety-six dollars per year, which provides access to the organization's core services and eligibility for fiscal sponsorship. Fiscal sponsorship involves an additional fee of approximately eight percent on all funds raised through your sponsored project, which covers Fractured Atlas's administrative, legal, and compliance costs. Some grant applications and fundraising campaigns may incur additional platform fees depending on the specific tools and integrations used. There are no hidden costs beyond the membership and sponsorship percentages, and the organization is transparent about its fee structure. Compared to forming your own nonprofit organization, which can cost thousands of dollars in legal fees, accounting costs, and ongoing compliance requirements, the Fractured Atlas model is dramatically more affordable and accessible. The membership fee alone is worthwhile for the insurance access and educational resources, even if you never use the fiscal sponsorship service.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Fractured Atlas eliminates the need to form a separate nonprofit entity in order to receive tax-deductible donations and apply for grants, saving thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of administrative work. The organization's established 501(c)(3) status carries credibility with grant-making bodies and individual donors who trust the fiscal sponsorship model. Insurance access through Fractured Atlas membership can provide significant savings on health insurance, liability insurance, and equipment insurance that are otherwise expensive or unavailable to individual artists. The educational resources are genuinely useful and go beyond generic business advice, addressing specific challenges that independent artists face such as contract negotiation, intellectual property protection, and sustainable pricing. The organization's staff is knowledgeable and responsive, providing personalized guidance on grant applications, fundraising strategies, and project structuring. Fractured Atlas has facilitated millions of dollars in funding for thousands of artists, demonstrating a proven track record that gives both artists and donors confidence in the model.
What Could Be Better
The eight percent fee on sponsored funds can add up significantly on larger fundraising campaigns, and artists who regularly raise substantial amounts may eventually find it more cost-effective to establish their own nonprofit entity. The application process for fiscal sponsorship is not automatic and requires a project proposal that must be reviewed and approved, which can take several weeks and is not guaranteed to be accepted. The organization's services are most valuable for artists who actively produce their own work and seek external funding, meaning pure performers who do not produce content may find limited use for the core fiscal sponsorship offering. Insurance access and availability vary by state and circumstance, and the specific plans available through Fractured Atlas may not be competitive in every market or for every individual situation. The platform's interface for managing sponsored projects and tracking donations could be more intuitive, and some administrative tasks require more manual communication with staff than a fully automated system would. Fractured Atlas's focus on independent and emerging artists means that the organization's network and resources may feel less relevant to established professionals with existing business infrastructure.
Our Recommendation
Fractured Atlas is essential for actor-producers who want to raise funds for independent creative projects through tax-deductible donations and grant applications without the burden of forming and maintaining a nonprofit organization. It is particularly valuable for early-career artists embarking on their first self-produced projects who need a credible fiscal sponsor to attract donors and qualify for grants. Actors who exclusively perform in other people's productions and have no interest in producing their own work will find limited value in the fiscal sponsorship service, though the insurance access and educational resources may still justify the membership fee. If you regularly raise more than fifty thousand dollars per year for your projects, consult with an accountant about whether forming your own nonprofit might be more cost-effective than the ongoing sponsorship fees. For actors who primarily need business formation services like LLC creation, LegalZoom is a more appropriate and affordable tool. Fractured Atlas works best as part of a broader creative business strategy where self-production and fundraising are central to your career plan.
Pro Tips
Before applying for fiscal sponsorship, develop a clear and compelling project proposal that articulates your artistic vision, budget, timeline, and fundraising plan, as the application review process evaluates the viability and artistic merit of your project. Build your donor base before launching a fiscally sponsored campaign, as having committed supporters ready to contribute on day one creates momentum that attracts additional donors. Use Fractured Atlas's educational resources to learn grant writing before applying for funding, as the quality of your application directly determines your success rate with competitive grants. Explore the insurance options immediately upon becoming a member, as many artists are unaware that they can access group health insurance, liability coverage, and equipment insurance through their membership. Keep meticulous records of all project expenses and donations, as Fractured Atlas requires regular reporting and clean accounting ensures smooth ongoing administration of your sponsored project. Network with other Fractured Atlas members through the organization's events and online community, as fellow artist-producers can share insights about fundraising strategies, grant opportunities, and production resources that benefit your work.