For Funders & Philanthropy-Serving Organizations
Interest is growing in fiscal sponsorship as a nonprofit resource sharing platform for a more efficient, sustainable, equitable, and inclusive sector. Funders today increasingly want to better understand the model and engage with fiscal sponsors and their projects.
For private, community, and corporate foundations, donors, and philanthropy service organizations as well as government agencies and nonprofit associations, Social Impact Commons offers a range of learning and support options including…
Workshops
Workshops are available in 60 to 120 minute, virtual formats and may be delivered in English and Spanish. We explore fiscal sponsorship and nonprofit resource sharing from a variety of angles. Workshop topics include:
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Ideal for anyone relatively new to fiscal sponsorship or in need of a refresher. Learn about:
Where did fiscal sponsorship come from?
What are the basic models?
What are the characteristics of fiscal sponsors?
What are some myths and realities?
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Our most popular workshop is great for anyone interested in going a bit deeper on fiscal sponsorship. We cover:
What is fiscal sponsorship and how does it work, technically and as a generative engine for communities?
What is the economic and operational rationale for fiscal sponsorship and collective capacity building?
How can it be an engine for equity, diversity, inclusion, and access while reducing sector fragmentation?
What are some of the challenges fiscal sponsor practitioners face?
What are some practical considerations for funders when working with fiscal sponsors?
What can funders do to support equity-driven fiscal sponsors on their journey towards deeper impact?
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A great professional development opportunity for program officers and other staff where we explore:
What are the basic fiscal sponsorship models and why is it important I know which model is being utilized?
What are key questions I should be asking to understand the nature of fiscal sponsorship relationships?
What grantee review protocols and application documentation should I consider when evaluating fiscally sponsored applicants?
Do our grant management systems and policies accommodate fiscal sponsor relationships?
How can I be an advocate within my foundation for groups using fiscal sponsors?
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We’ll customize a workshop or training on just about any facet of fiscal sponsorship for just about anyone. Example audiences include:
Members of Nonprofit Associations
Government Agencies
Attorneys and nonprofit law students
Cohorts of community stakeholders
CPAs & Nonprofit Consultants
“I’m really grateful to the Social Impact Commons team for the information. Touched on big concepts, legal/model stuff, and strategy/big picture considerations for funders. All very helpful. ”
Consulting & Tools
Consulting & Tools to advance your grant-making priorities when fiscal sponsors are involved.
Services include:
Research and analysis on the fiscal sponsor ecosystem in your focus area(s).
Policy and procedure development to accommodate fiscal sponsorship relationships.
Professional development training for your program, grants, and finance managers.
Guidance on structuring grantor-grantee relationships when using fiscal sponsors.
On-call support for any other matters relating to fiscal sponsorship.
Community-Based
Projects
Community-Based Projects to develop and build shared management capacity among nonprofits in your funding area. This could include building the capacity of a cohort of new or established fiscal sponsors with whom you work, as well as exploring the potential to develop new fiscal sponsorship models in your community. We are seeing nonprofits that serve as hubs for culturally specific communities as well as nonprofit alliances and associations increasingly offering fiscal sponsorship as an efficient means of providing shared management and technical support. Learn more about our cohort capacity building model here!