Fiscal Sponsorship
Fiscal Sponsorship
The Arts Council provides very limited opportunities for fiscal sponsorship to individuals and groups for projects that are clearly charitable in nature, provide public benefit to the local community, and further the purposes of the Arts Council.
The projects and programs that we are currently proud to sponsor include: Arte del Corazón, Eagle Bear Productions, Radius Gallery, and the Young Writers Program.
What is Fiscal Sponsorship?
Fiscal sponsorship is a formal arrangement in which a 501(c)(3) public charity, like the Arts Council, sponsors a project or organization that lacks exempt status. This alternative to starting your own nonprofit allows you to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations under our exempt status.
Since most grantmakers give to organizations, not individuals, fiscal sponsorship may help you qualify for more funding opportunities, and be able start your project sooner. Meanwhile, you can work on getting your own nonprofit status, if that’s your ultimate goal.
Application Process
We will consider sponsorship for activities that meet the following criteria:
Projects that are in line with the Arts Council’s mission and strategic priorities
Projects that are pursuing their own 501(c)(3) status and/or temporary with an end date.
If you would like to apply, please carefully review our Fiscal Sponsorship Services document, available to download below. Our application process requires submission of a letter of intent before a full application. The entire process takes approximately two months to complete.
This document includes instructions for submitting an LOI, as well as important information about the services that the Arts Council provides to its sponsored projects and the obligations of the sponsored project.
The fiscal sponsorship LOI must be completed online in our grants portal. Download this PDF to view the LOI questions in advance.
If your LOI is approved, you will be invited to submit a full application online in our grants portal. Download this PDF to view the full application questions in advance.
First, read through our Fiscal Sponsor Services document (see above). If you still have questions, please contact Tamara Liu, Grants Program Manager, at grantsprogram@artscouncilsc.org or 831-475-9600 x16.