Fiscal Sponsor FAQ
What is a Fiscal Sponsor?
A Fiscal Sponsor is an organization that can provide nonprofit status to individuals or groups for projects that align with their charitable mission. The Fiscal Sponsor enables the sponsored project to receive tax-deductible donations and grants. The Fiscal Sponsor may also provide administrative support and oversight to ensure compliance with legal and financial requirements.
Seed&Spark loves Fiscal Sponsors, but we also always strongly recommend Creators consult with tax and legal professionals before working with one.
Seed&Spark also encourages any Project Owner to ensure that running a crowdfunding campaign through a Fiscal Sponsor is a sound financial decision. Fiscal Sponsors will take a small percentage of the funds you raise, so be sure to account for that in your budget.
Which Fiscal Sponsors does Seed&Spark work with?
Click the arrow below to view currently approved Fiscal Sponsors:
Cinefemme is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which helps women filmmakers realize their independent film, video, and new media projects. We serve as the Fiscal Agent and can confer our tax-exempt status to qualified projects, making donations tax-deductible and qualifying them for certain grants. Submissions accepted into the Fiscal Sponsorship Program are non-commercial projects with a woman director at the helm.
Cinematography for Actors Institute (CFA Institute) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a collaborative community and supporting career growth for underrepresented and emerging filmmakers. Through technical training, networking events, and industry partnerships, CFA Institute empowers actors and filmmakers to build confidence on set while bridging the gap between departments. CFA also offers a Fiscal Sponsorship Program, workshops, and quarterly film challenges, providing vital resources and opportunities to emerging storytellers. CFA Institute serves as a hub for creative professionals looking to expand their craft and connections in the film industry.
The Film Collaborative is the first non-profit committed to distribution education and facilitation of independent film. Launched in early 2010, TFC offers independent filmmakers a full range of services, including fiscal sponsorship, education about distribution, and distribution and marketing service. To be considered for Fiscal Sponsorship projects must be film or film related, consistent with the TFC’s charitable purposes, be creative, artistic and/or educational, and represent an imaginative contribution to the film or video art form. For more information please explore our fiscal sponsorship page and read the FAQs!
As a fiscal sponsor, Film Independent seeks projects that champion creative independence in visual storytelling to help foster a diverse, innovative, and visionary artistic community.
From The Heart Productions, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to help the artists who create independent films get their documentaries, features, short films, and web series funded and completed. Through our fiscal sponsorship program, we offer low fees, personal support, and guidance on fundraising. Our Roy W. Dean Grant is offered three times each year. Our Intentional Filmmaking Classes help filmmakers create an action plan for funding while clearing for them all mental blocks keeping them from getting money for their films. For more info on fiscal sponsorship program, click on link in header.
International Documentary Association (IDA) supports the vital work of documentary storytellers and champions a thriving and inclusive documentary culture. Since its inception in 1982, IDA has continually grown alongside a rapidly evolving documentary field, never wavering from the vision of a world where documentary creators flourish. Our infrastructure of support connects audiences with the best of the form, provides programming and educational resources to media makers, fosters community, and defends the rights and freedoms of documentary artists, activists, and journalists worldwide.
NYWIFT energizes women by illuminating their achievements, presenting training and professional development programs, awarding scholarships and grants, and providing access to a supportive community of peers. NYWIFT is part of a network of more than 60 women in film organizations worldwide, representing more than 15,000 members. NYWIFT produces over 50 innovative programs and special events annually, including the Muse Awards for Vision and Achievement, which honors women in front of and behind the camera; Designing Women, which recognizes costume designers, makeup artists and hair stylists in the industry; the Finance Institute, connecting filmmakers and funders to discuss the latest opportunities for support; and the Creative Workforce Initiative, which includes an annual Summit, publication, and screening series.
Northwest Film Forum is Seattle's premier film arts organization, screening over 200 independently made and classic films annually, offering a year-round schedule of filmmaking classes for all ages, and supporting filmmakers at all stages of their careers.
SIMA Studios is a globally recognized leader in social impact arts and entertainment at service to an international cohort of creators who utilize their creativity to build a better world. SIMA exists to advance global awareness, social justice, human rights, and education by supporting content creators, activists, educators, and changemakers—amplifying the impact of their works to inspire activism, compassion and social transformation. SIMA’s Fiscal Sponsorship program (learn more here) enables you to seek grants and solicit tax-deductible donations for your creative social impact project, documentary or campaign, unhampered by administrative burdens and bureaucratic red tape. Please contact [email protected] to learn more and apply.
Southern Documentary Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organization that cultivates documentaries made in or about the American South. Inspired by their core belief that documentaries have the power to change lives, SDF serves as a leading advocate for powerful Southern storytelling, providing filmmakers with professional support, fiscal sponsorship, and creative community. Seed&Spark is working with SDF in their fiscal sponsor capacity after seeing the care and dedication they invest in their films and filmmakers. The stories they choose to support are critically acclaimed and award winning. This year alone they added an Emmy and a prestigious Peabody Award to their cap. SDF will have their own curated crowdfunding page on Seed&Spark so we can help highlight their exceptional films.
Stowe Story Labs is a Vermont-based nonprofit helping screenwriters and filmmakers develop skills and projects. They do that through labs, retreats, workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and long-form writing programs.
How can I work with a Fiscal Sponsor that isn't currently on your list?
If you don't see your preferred partner listed on this page, please have them download and complete our services agreement and a W-9.
They can then send the completed documents to [email protected] with the email subject line: “[ORGANIZATION NAME] Fiscal Sponsor Onboarding.”
Before launching your campaign, you will also need to grant your fiscal sponsor admin access to your project, so they can enter their bank details (and complete the identity verification) to receive the payout after the campaign.
How do contributions to crowdfunding campaigns become tax-deductible?
When you work with a Fiscal Sponsor, contributions to your crowdfunding campaign may become tax-deductible because the Fiscal Sponsor is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means that donations made to them for your project can potentially be tax-deductible for the donor. This process allows individuals and entities to support your crowdfunding campaign while receiving possible tax benefits. It's essential to ensure that your Fiscal Sponsor is reputable and that all arrangements comply with tax regulations.
Once you officially attach a Fiscal Sponsor to your Seed&Spark crowdfunding campaign, the Fiscal Sponsor must be the initial recipient of all funds raised.
All campaign funds must go directly to the Fiscal Sponsor to ensure each contribution is tax-deductible.
Fiscal Sponsors are responsible for dispersing funds to the Project Owner, and issuing tax-deductible receipts to qualifying donors.
What is partial deductibility?
Partial deductibility is extremely important.
Whenever a Project Owner offers rewards to a contributor in exchange for their pledge, their contribution is partially deductible above and beyond the fair market value of the rewards they receive.
For example, if you give a donor a ticket to your show that usually costs $10 for a donation of $100, the tax-deductible value of that donation is $90, above the value of the reward they received .
The Fiscal Sponsor will need to issue receipts stating non-deductible values, and it is the Project Owner’s responsibility to provide information about the fair market values of any rewards.
Is there a minimum threshold for tax-deductible contributions?
Fiscal Sponsors may set a minimum threshold for pledges receiving tax-deductible receipts. However, ALL funds, less credit card fees, will still be issued to the Fiscal Sponsor.
What if I don't need my crowdfunding contributions to be tax-deductible?
If you're working with a Fiscal Sponsor but don't need every pledge to your Seed&Spark campaign to be tax-deductible, consider keeping your Fiscal Sponsor completely separate and unattached from your crowdfunding campaign on our platform.
For most campaigns, the average pledge amount is $100, and the most common pledge is $25. Typically, people contributing at these levels are not interested in the tax write-off, so in some cases, it won't be a powerful incentive to have the pledge be tax deductible. It’s a good idea to check in with your network and audience first to assess if working with a Fiscal Sponsor will impact your ability to raise your goal.
Who is in charge of issuing tax-related receipts to campaign supporters?
The Fiscal Sponsor is responsible for issuing all tax-related receipts.
Seed&Spark sends confirmation emails for all pledges, but these cannot be used for anything tax-related.
Where can I find information about my campaign contributors?
You can locate information about your campaign contributors within the Supporters Dashboard, which is accessible to all project administrators. The Supporters Dashboard contains a downloadable spreadsheet with all contributors' information, including date, name, email, pledge amount, selected incentive, etc.
Are there any fees?
Your Fiscal Sponsor will likely charge a fee for their services. Your Fiscal Sponsor is responsible for communicating these fees with you.
When can I expect to receive the funds from my campaign if I work with a Fiscal Sponsor?
Funds are typically issued to the Fiscal Sponsor approximately 5-7 business days after a successful campaign concludes.
Can a Fiscal Sponsor store bank account information for multiple projects?
No. We do not allow Fiscal Sponsors to store bank account information for multiple projects. Even if your Fiscal Sponsor has worked with us before, they must input their financial information into every unique crowdfunding project on Seed&Spark.
This is a security measure to protect sensitive data.
Do I need a Fiscal Sponsor to crowdfund on Seed&Spark?
No. Working with a Fiscal Sponsor is always optional, and it may or may not be right for your campaign, depending on your needs.
Consulting with financial and legal professionals can help you make the best informed decision.
I have additional questions. Who should I speak to?
We always recommend that Creators consult with both financial and legal professionals when working on any project, especially with a Fiscal Sponsor.
We cannot provide specific tax or financial guidance.
If you have questions about the Seed&Spark platform, please contact us by opening a new support chat, or by emailing us at [email protected]