Fiscal Sponsorship

Starting a nonprofit from scratch takes time, money, and significant administrative capacity — none of which should stand between a great idea and real impact. IncuBrighter's fiscal sponsorship program gives emerging projects, initiatives, and community-driven efforts access to our 501(c)(3) status and operational infrastructure so you can focus on the work that matters.

Whether you need a full organizational home or simply a trusted partner to receive and grant funds on your behalf, we offer two models to fit where your project is right now.

Model A

In Model A fiscal sponsorship, a project operates as a program of the sponsoring organization rather than as a separate legal entity. The sponsor organization takes full legal and financial ownership of the project — the project's funds, staff, contracts, and activities all belong to the sponsor. The project leader functions as an employee or contractor of the sponsor, carrying out the work under the sponsor's 501(c)(3) umbrella.

Donors make tax-deductible contributions directly to the sponsoring organization, designated for the project. Because the project is legally part of the sponsor, there is no pass-through of funds — the sponsor genuinely controls the money and bears full fiduciary responsibility for how it is used.

Model A offers the most legal protection and the cleanest IRS compliance posture, but it requires the most trust and integration between the project and the sponsor. It's well-suited for projects that are not yet ready to incorporate independently or want to test an idea before forming their own organization.

Your project. Our umbrella.

Under Model A, your project becomes a program of IncuBrighter. That means donors give directly to IncuBrighter on your project's behalf — and their gifts are fully tax-deductible. Your team operates under our legal and financial framework while retaining the day-to-day leadership of your work.

This model is ideal for:

  • Grassroots initiatives and community projects not yet ready to incorporate

  • Social entrepreneurs testing a concept before forming an independent organization

  • Programs seeking to build a track record before applying for their own tax-exempt status

What's included:

  • Use of IncuBrighter's 501(c)(3) status for grant applications and donor contributions

  • Financial management, reporting, and compliance support

  • Access to IncuBrighter's consulting and capacity-building resources

  • A collaborative relationship with a team that understands the nonprofit ecosystem

Your project. Our umbrella.

Under Model C, your organization remains its own legal entity while IncuBrighter acts as a grant-making intermediary. Donors contribute to IncuBrighter, and we issue grants to your project — after verifying that your work aligns with our charitable purpose. You keep your autonomy; we provide the tax-deductible giving pathway.

This model is ideal for:

  • Established groups or coalitions that want to remain independent

  • Projects serving a clear charitable purpose that don't yet have 501(c)(3) status

  • Organizations seeking funder access without full integration into a sponsor

What's included:

  • Pre-approval review and charitable purpose verification

  • Donor acknowledgment and tax receipting through IncuBrighter

  • Grant disbursement with expenditure responsibility oversight

  • Ongoing compliance support throughout the grant period

Model C

In Model C fiscal sponsorship, the project remains a legally separate entity (often an unincorporated group or even a for-profit), and the sponsoring organization acts as a grant-maker rather than a direct host. Donors make tax-deductible gifts to the sponsor, and the sponsor then makes a grant to the project — but only after pre-approving the project's charitable purpose and establishing that the funds will be used for that purpose.

Because the project retains its own legal identity, the sponsor must exercise expenditure responsibility — meaning it monitors how the funds are used and ensures they serve the exempt purpose the sponsor approved. Model C is more flexible in that the project keeps its independence, but it also carries more compliance overhead for the sponsor and provides less legal cover than Model A.

Model C is commonly used when an existing group or initiative wants access to tax-deductible fundraising without fully merging into another organization.

For Funders and Donors

When you give to an IncuBrighter-sponsored project, your contribution is tax-deductible and managed with full accountability. IncuBrighter maintains fiduciary responsibility for all sponsored funds — meaning your investment is protected by our financial controls, reporting standards, and nonprofit governance. You can give with confidence, knowing the work you believe in is backed by an organization committed to doing it right.

Ready to Explore Sponsorship?

We work with a limited number of sponsored projects each year to ensure every partnership gets the attention it deserves.

Model A Fiscal Sponsorships are subject to a 15% fiscal sponsorship fee.

Model C Fiscal Sponsorships are subject to a 12% fiscal sponsorship fee.

DISCLAIMER: Fiscal sponsorship arrangements are subject to review and approval by IncuBrighter's leadership. Administrative fees apply. Contact us for current fee schedules and availability.