Fiscal Sponsorship

Fundraising is a skill. Fiscal sponsorship is the tool that makes fundraising possible.

If you’re building a mission-driven project and need to raise tax-deductible donations or apply for grants before forming a standalone 501(c)(3), fiscal sponsorship can provide the institutional infrastructure you need—without forcing you to build everything from scratch on day one.

Raise funds. Build credibility. Prove your model. Stay focused on impact.

What Is Fiscal Sponsorship?

Fiscal sponsorship is a contractual relationship between a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (the fiscal sponsor) and a group or individual whose work aligns with the sponsor’s charitable mission.

This relationship enables the fiscal sponsor to extend certain benefits of nonprofit status to the sponsored project—most notably, the ability to receive tax-deductible donations and apply for many grants—without the project having to form a nonprofit immediately.

In other words: we built the compliance and financial infrastructure so you can focus on building and testing your work—responsibly.

What Can You Do With Fiscal Sponsorship?

Fiscal sponsorship can unlock the fundraising tools and credibility you need to grow your work with integrity and accountability.

With fiscal sponsorship, your project may be able to:

• Solicit tax-deductible donations from individuals

• Accept recurring monthly gifts

• Receive contributions via ACH/electronic transfer and check

• Process credit card donations

• Apply for grants and corporate sponsorships (subject to eligibility requirements)

• Access basic guidance on compliant fundraising and spending

• Establish clean financial reporting and documentation from day one

Note: Specific tools and workflows depend on the sponsorship pathway and the nature of your project.

Who Fiscal Sponsorship Is For

Fiscal sponsorship is a strong fit for leaders and teams who:

• Are building a project with a clear public benefit and charitable purpose

• Need to raise funds now, but are not ready to form a standalone nonprofit yet

• Want to test and refine a program model through a pilot phase

• Can operate with transparency, documentation, and accountability

• Understand this is a professional relationship with real compliance obligations

Who It’s Not For

Fiscal sponsorship is generally not a fit for projects that:

• Primarily benefit private individuals (rather than a charitable class/community)

• Involve partisan political activity

• Intend to engage in lobbying as a core activity (some limited advocacy may be permissible depending on structure, but must be disclosed)

• Require the sponsor to serve as the employer of staff (unless explicitly agreed in writing)

• Are unwilling to follow required financial controls, reporting, and review processes

How Do You Become Fiscally Sponsored?

Our process is designed to be clear, efficient, and responsible.

Step 1: Start with Coach House 15 min engagement call.

Fiscal sponsorship is offered as part of our broader capacity-building ecosystem. Many sponsored projects engage through our Accelerator or learning community first.

Step 2: Submit an application

You’ll provide a basic overview of your project, leadership, budget, intended fundraising, and any planned activities related to advocacy or lobbying.

Step 3: Review + decision

Our team reviews alignment, readiness, risk, and operational fit. We may request clarifications or a short call.

Step 4: Onboarding

If approved, you’ll sign an agreement, complete onboarding, and receive guidelines for fundraising, messaging, and financial requests.

Step 5: Start fundraising

Once onboarded, you can begin receiving contributions through the approved channels.

What Else Should You Know?

Fiscal sponsorship creates real opportunity—but it also comes with real guardrails.

• Administrative fee: Donations received through fiscal sponsorship are subject to a 7% administrative fee that supports compliance, financial administration, and oversight.

• Review + approval: We require review and approval of certain fundraising materials, written solicitations, and grant proposals to ensure accurate representation and compliance.

• Prohibited activities: Some activities are not permitted under sponsorship, including political campaign activity and other restricted uses of charitable funds.

• Funds must align to purpose: All funds must be used for the charitable purposes described in your approved project scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fiscal sponsorship the same as forming a nonprofit?

No. Fiscal sponsorship allows you to operate under a sponsor’s nonprofit umbrella while you test and build—without forming your own entity immediately.

Do you “own” my project if I’m sponsored?

No. You lead your work. The sponsor provides financial and compliance infrastructure and retains oversight responsibilities required by law.

Can I apply for grants?

Often yes—depending on the funder, project scope, and readiness. Some proposals require sponsor review and approval prior to submission.

How long can I stay sponsored?

Some projects use sponsorship temporarily while preparing to incorporate and file for exemption. Others remain sponsored long-term. We assess fit on an ongoing basis.

Can my project hire staff?

Possibly—but employment arrangements vary and must be clearly structured. Many projects work with contractors or partner organizations. If staffing is required, we’ll discuss options during onboarding.

Ready to Explore Fiscal Sponsorship?

If you have a serious idea and need a compliant, credible way to raise funds, fiscal sponsorship may be the right next step.

Schedule a call with us!