Guess how many organizations provide fiscal sponsorship?

A bunch of terrific organizations provide fiscal sponsorship and I was fortunate to meet and learn about them last week at the second Annual Gathering of the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors. The NNFS is dedicated to improving the practices, capabilities, and awareness of fiscal sponsorship in the nonprofit sector through education and advocacy. 50 participants from 35 organizations met to discuss best practices, strategies for improving the understanding of fiscal sponsorship, paths to create technological savvy for fiscal sponsors, and fundraising during an economic downturn. Some of the other arts organizations participating in the gathering included Arts Engine, Brooklyn Arts Council, Independent Arts & Media, New York Foundation for the Arts, The Field, and Women Make Movies.

Some tidbits from the meeting regarding fiscally sponsored artists include:

• Engage funders as allies. Be pro-active when contacting funders. Focus on aspects of your work that are innovative, outside the mainstream, and encourage civic engagement.

• It is often overlooked that a fiscally sponsored project is part of a community of artists. Consider ways to join with others in this community to strengthen your goals and support each other. Doing so may help you to not only strengthen your resources, but to improve your outcomes and impact.

• Remember when you’re contacting funders as a fiscally sponsored project, you’ll need to be able to clearly explain and show why your work deserves charitable dollars - especially since your project has not been deemed charitable by the omnipresent IRS hovering on the brains of funders. Break down everything you do into measurable parts and make sure the funders understand what type of quantifiable results you expect.

As a member of the NNFS, Fractured Atlas is excited to work with other fiscal sponsors to help the public and funders navigate fiscal sponsorship and build capacity to advance public benefit. I have volunteered to act as the arts participant for the Strategic Planning committee of the NNFS and will continue to work with other fiscal sponsors along with funders to advocate for fiscal sponsorship.

P.S. If you really want to know the answer to how many organizations provide fiscal sponsorship, you can check out the Tides Center’s Fiscal Sponsor Directory and the soon to launch Fiscal Sponsor Directory by the San Francisco Study Center.