Documents

Transparency is one of the core values of commoning. All of the documents and records of nonprofits are public, but we prefer to be proactive in sharing our essential information.

Legal Form & Tax Status

Social Impact Commons, Inc. is a Delaware nonprofit, non-stock corporation. The IRS has determined that we are exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and that we qualify as a Type I Supporting Organization under Section 509(a)(3) of the IRC.

Bylaws

These are the current bylaws of Social Impact Commons, Inc. This document includes key information on how we are governed, and most importantly, how Members participate in the governance process. As a Type I Supporting Organization, and in keeping with commoning principles, we are governed by our Members. This means that Members nominate and elect our board during an annual process. Voting rights for Members vest at the level of Organization Member.

IRS Form 990

These are our nonprofit corporate tax returns, which are a required annual compliance filing for most nonprofits. These forms contain details of our financial activities, as well as key disclosures we need to make to the government each year.

• IRS Form 990 2022

• IRS Form 990 2021

• IRS Form 990 2020

Financial Statements

These are our independently reviewed and audited financial statements.

• Statements 2022

• Statements 2021

• Statements 2020

IRS Form W-9

For payment and contracting purposes: Social Impact Commons, Inc., 6370 Church Road, Philadelphia, PA 19151. Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): 35-2599700

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fiscal sponsor?

A fiscal sponsor, or commons manager (our term), is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) backbone organization that provides shared corporate structure, finance, HR, legal, insurance, risk management, and other resources among multiple semi-autonomous missions.

What is a commons or commoning?

A commons is a set of resources (financial, human, physical, natural, intellectual) that is stewarded and sustained for the benefit of a defined, but open group of people. Most commons revolve around land or real property or other natural resources: shared grazing land, a lake, an irrigation system for a set of farms, etc. Increasingly, digital commons exist where information and ideas are shared with a group of members. But any resource can be sustained and benefit a community through commoning. Fiscal sponsors commonize infrastructure for nonprofits: staff, infrastructure, management practices, and even tax-exempt status. Commoning is the act of stewarding a commons—a community managing resources together with equitable and mutual care.

Is the nonprofit sector a commons?

Yes. Though this way of thinking about the nonprofit or tax-exempt sector is not widespread (yet!), we maintain that our sector is a commons, meaning that it concerns shared, community stewardship of resources that are distinct from public administration (the state, or government) and private ownership. There is a public sector (government), private sector (individual or corporate), and the nonprofit or “commons sector.” 

Is there a difference between a fiscal sponsor and a commons manager?

No. They are the same, though not all fiscal sponsors subscribe to commoning values. To be a commons manager implies that you place value on bottom-up governance by commoners (those who benefit from the commons), not traditional, top-down approaches to governance. It also entails a commitment to ongoing learning and fostering of social ties among your constituents. Other commoning values include mutuality, collective care, and stewardship. As with the phrase “commons sector,” we feel that “commons manager” is more descriptive and true to the work and intention of the field. The prevailing term “fiscal sponsor” speaks little to most people and, if anything, carries negative paternalistic connotations, in our view. If we could, we would erase fiscal sponsorship, and replace it with commons manager.

Is fiscal sponsorship different from fiscal agency or a fiscal conduit?

Yes and no. They refer to the same thing. But “fiscal agency” and “fiscal conduit” are improper and legally incorrect terms. Fiscal sponsorship is the proper term. “Agency” implies that the “project” is engaging the sponsor as its agent and therefore has ultimate control of the charitable funds that are given to the sponsor. This is never true. “Conduit” implies a passthrough of charitable funds, which is expressly prohibited by the Internal Revenue Code. 

Is Social Impact Commons a fiscal sponsor?

No. We are not a fiscal sponsor, we support fiscal sponsors. Social Impact Commons is an incubator and shared service provider for the fiscal sponsorship field, with the goals of growing and strengthening the field. We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, with the sub-designation as a “Type I Supporting Organization.” This means we support independent organizations of similar mission—in our case, fiscal sponsors or commons managers. 

What is the purpose of Social Impact Commons?

Our purpose is to grow the capacity of the fiscal sponsorship field in two ways: (1) through incubating new fiscal sponsors and encouraging proliferation of this work, and (2) through supporting the ongoing growth and capacity of established fiscal sponsors through shared resources and healthy and effective practices.

How is Social Impact Commons different from the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors?

Social Impact Commons is primarily a shared services organization, providing direct support in the form of technical assistance, shared technology, tools, and other resources. The National Network of Fiscal Sponsors (NNFS) is primarily an advocacy and convening organization, working to advocate for the fiscal sponsorship field in general and producing an annual conference.