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fiscal sponsorship FAQs.

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  1. What is Fiscal Sponsorship?
  2. Is fiscal sponsorship exclusive to film projects? It is used in other industries?
  3. What model of Fiscal Sponsorship does TFC practice? How does it work?
  4. Does having a fiscal sponsor make me or my project a nonprofit or a 501(c)(3)?
  5. What is the difference between a fiscal sponsor and a fiscal agent? Which one is TFC?
  6. What is the difference between a tax receipt, tax deduction, tax write-off, and a tax credit?
  7. What is the difference between a donor and an investor?
  8. What is the difference between corporate sponsorship and fiscal sponsorship?
  9. How can my film benefit from having fiscal sponsorship from The Film Collaborative?
  10. What are the program costs?
  11. What does the fiscal sponsorship admin cost and application fee cover?
  12. When should membership be renewed? What happens if my membership lapses and I still need fiscal sponsorship? Are renewal invitations automatic?
  13. How do I apply?
  14. I am returning with a project that was previously fiscally sponsored. Do I need to apply again?
  15. How should I prepare for the fiscal sponsorship consultation meeting?
  16. What is the application deadline? Once I apply, how long does it take to get a decision?
  17. Is my application confidential? Are donors to my project confidential?
  18. Can I apply for fiscal sponsorship for more than one project?
  19. I want to apply to a single funding source or grant opportunity, will you be my fiscal sponsor?
  20. Are International applicants eligible to apply?
  21. Why does TFC use the Nonfiction Core Application for fiscal sponsorship applications?
  22. The application asks for a logline, what is a logline? Should I include my script in the application?
  23. Why is the funding plan for my project so important?
  24. Do I need to have a fundraising plan for my ENTIRE budget? Is there a fundraising minimum? Is there a maximum amount I can raise for my project?
  25. What is a donation pledge?
  26. Why do you want to know how I will raise funds outside of the fiscal sponsorship program?
  27. Why is the budget for my project so important? How do I make an industry standard comprehensive line item expense budget?
  28. The application requires a comprehensive line item expense budget. Can I submit a budget top-sheet only?
  29. Can I apply for fiscal sponsorship now to have it available in case I ever decide to use it?
  30. Can my project have more than one fiscal sponsor?
  31. Can I apply for Fiscal Sponsorship at any stage of my project?
  32. What are the criteria for the selection of the projects?
  33. What kind of projects do you sponsor?
  34. Does TFC help filmmakers with fundraising? Does TFC provide funding resources?
  35. Where can I get help with grant writing?
  36. Can I receive grants and funding that do not require a fiscal sponsor?
  37. What donation payment types does TFC accept?
  38. Who should a donation check be made out to? What address should check donations be mailed to?
  39. Can I receive online donations by credit or debit card to my project? Is there an extra fee?
  40. What information should I give to someone donating from a Donor Advised Fund aka a DAF?
  41. Does TFC accept stock donations for fiscally sponsored projects? What is the extra advantage to the donor when they donate stock?
  42. Can I combine crowdfunding with fiscal sponsorship?
  43. Does TFC accept matching donations?
  44. Can I give donors and funders a credit in my film? How should I credit the people who work on my film?
  45. How should TFC be credited in the film credits?
  46. Can I get in-kind donations for my project? Can someone on my crew or one of my actors provide their services as an in-kind donation?
  47. What information do you need for each donor?
  48. How and when are tax receipts sent to donors?
  49. How do I request funds to be paid to me?
  50. How do I account for project funds received on my taxes?
  51. What reporting does TFC require?
  52. How do I close my project when it is complete or if we decide not to move forward with it?
  53. What if my project does not move forward and I have not withdrawn all the funds raised via TFC fiscal sponsorship?
  54. Will TFC submit federal government grant opportunities on behalf of my project to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)?
  55. Will TFC submit a grant application on my behalf to the NEA?
  56. I do not live in the US and don’t have a US tax ID, how do I get one?
  57. What is TFC’s full legal name and tax ID?
  58. Can I contact you?
  1. What is Fiscal Sponsorship?

    Fiscal Sponsorship refers to the practice of nonprofit organizations offering their legal and tax-exempt status to groups—typically projects—engaged in activities related to the sponsoring organization’s mission. It typically involves a cost-based contractual arrangement between a project and an established nonprofit.

    The term fiscal sponsor is sometimes referred to by funders using other words such as the applicant must have 501(c)(3) status, be tax-exempt, and be a nonprofit. However, the correct term is fiscal sponsor for these purposes.

    A fiscal sponsor allows a project that furthers the nonprofit mission to raise funds from individuals, foundations, government, and other philanthropic sources that give only to nonprofit organizations, using the nonprofit status. Funds raised for the sponsored project are re-granted, at the discretion of the fiscal sponsor, to the project and can be requested to pay project expenses.

  2. Is fiscal sponsorship exclusive to film projects? It is used in other industries?
    Fiscal sponsorship is not limited to film at all! It is utilized across all sectors including other arts, human services, public health, environmental, community endeavors, international aid, and a host of other human services.
  3. What model of Fiscal Sponsorship does TFC practice? How does it work?

    There are 6 different models of fiscal sponsorship practiced in the United States, TFC uses Model C: Pre-Approved Grant Relationship, also known as a Grantor - Grantee relationship. This model is most commonly used in the arts sector. In Model C:

    • The fiscally sponsored project remains a separate entity retaining creative control and responsibility for managing its tax reporting and liability issues. The fiscal sponsor does not take any ownership of any part of the results of the project’s work.
    • The project must assure the sponsor that they used funds received to accomplish the ends described in the project proposal.
    • In Model C, the fiscal sponsor pays the project, the project pays expenses, and the fiscal sponsor does not pay project expenses directly.
    • Except for the agreed-upon administrative overhead charges to sponsored projects and the exercise of its variance powers, funds received by the fiscal sponsor belong to the fiscal sponsor and are re-granted to the project.
    • The fiscal sponsor monitors all projects for appropriateness of expenditures and budgetary solvency and routinely reviews project fund balances down to the level of individual grants.
    • The fiscal sponsor builds, maintains, and continually improves financial management, accounting, administrative, reporting, human resources, training, risk management, and technical assistance systems.
    • The fiscal sponsor ensures that projects comply with grants and government contracts’ financial and administrative requirements.
    • The fiscal sponsor reviews, approves, and signs all grant contracts.
    • The fiscal sponsor acts as a grantor supporting projects by granting to the entity conducting the project.

    TFC complies with the best practices recommended by the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors (NNFS). You can find more information on the Pre-Approved Grant Relationship here.

  4. Does having a fiscal sponsor make me or my project a nonprofit or a 501(c)(3)?

    No. Having a fiscal sponsor does not make an individual or project a nonprofit or a 501(c)(3). Only the IRS can make a 501(c)(3) ruling. 

  5. What is the difference between a fiscal sponsor and a fiscal agent? Which one is TFC?

    TFC is a fiscal sponsor, not a fiscal agent. The difference is explained in these informative articles written by lawyers specializing in this field:

  6. What is the difference between a tax receipt, tax deduction, tax write-off, and a tax credit?

    Here is a clear explanation of the difference between a tax receipt / tax deduction / tax write-off and a tax credit.

  7. What is the difference between a donor and an investor?
    A donor contributes money to your project and receives a charitable tax receipt in return. A donor cannot receive profits from the project.
    An investor contributes money to your project with the intention of receiving their investment principle, plus a return at the end. An investor cannot receive a charitable tax receipt for invested funds.
    The words donor and investor are not interchangeable.
  8. What is the difference between corporate sponsorship and fiscal sponsorship?

    Corporate sponsorship consists of support in the form of money and/or product in return for advertising, publicity, brand recognition. This is a marketing expense and not usually a tax-deductible donation since they are paying for something you are providing something in return for their payment: It is a purchase, not a donation.

    Many corporations also have philanthropic arms that donate to tax-exempt charitable organizations. An online search will help you find corporate foundations that may be appropriate for your project.

    Fiscal TFC Fiscal Sponsorship can be utilized when a film or media-related project secures funding from individual, foundation or government sources that give only to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status that allows a project that furthers the nonprofit mission to raise funds using the nonprofit status. Funds raised for the sponsored project are re-granted, at the discretion of the fiscal sponsor, to the project and can be requested to pay project expenses.

  9. How can my film benefit from having fiscal sponsorship from The Film Collaborative?

    Many individual donors, foundations, and other funders will only donate to an established 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Starting a 501(c)(3) is a time-consuming and expensive process; TFC created the fiscal sponsorship program so that filmmakers and artists do not have to take on this burden and can concentrate on their projects.

  10. What are the program costs?

    There are FEES and ADMIN COSTS. The difference is important: A FEE is a fixed price charged for a specific service, i.e. application fee, membership fee, credit card fee. ADMIN COSTS help cover the expense of operating the program.

    • Fees:
      • TFC’s fiscal sponsorship application fee is $50. This fee is paid at the time of application.
      • Membership is required once a project is approved for the fiscal sponsorship program. This $85 fee is due during the onboarding process. It is due annually on the anniversary of the first payment for as long as the project is participating in the program.
      • Credit card donations can incur an additional 2.2% plus .30 for each transaction. Donors can cover the PayPal fee upon checkout, which they do approximately 50% of the time.
      • The credit card fee is subtracted from the gross amount before TFC receives the funds. TFC is not responsible for changes in the credit card fee.
    • Costs:
      • The admin cost for donations is 5% of the amount received by TFC.
      • The cost for Federal government grants, i.e., NEH, NSF, or other funders that require TFC to submit an application and administer a grant on the applicant’s behalf, is 7%. This situation is uncommon. More information on NEH applications is below.
  11. What does the fiscal sponsorship admin cost and application fee cover?
    A fiscal sponsorship program creates a significant amount of administrative, legal, and accounting work. These costs help coves our administrative and related overhead expenses and allow TFC to offer this program.
  12. When should membership be renewed? What happens if my membership lapses and I still need fiscal sponsorship? Are renewal invitations automatic?

    Membership is initially established during the onboarding process once an application is accepted and the project is invited to participate in the fiscal sponsorship program.

    Renewal is due on or before the anniversary of the project start in the fiscal sponsorship program.

    Projects that have not raised funds in a 10-month period will be asked to provide an updated funding plan for the next year before being invited to renew.

    TFC Membership will send an email approxmimately one month before your membership is due for renewal. Renewal should be completed before the deadline.

    If membership lapses projects can continue to raise funds, however, funds will only be paid to the project when membership is up to date. When membership is renewed after the deadline renewal will be backdated to the expiration date.

    Invitations to renew are extended to projects in good standing, actively utilizing the fiscal sponsorship program, maintain up-to-date reports, have consistent, timely and respectful communication habits etc. Projects that consistently need multiple prompts to respond to communications, do not raise enough funding to cover the cost of administering their participation in the program, have incomplete reporting and or present an unreasonable challenge to work with are not invited to renew.

  13. How do I apply?
    • Start by going to the How to Apply page.
    • Follow the steps in the Application Checklist at the top of the page.
    • Fill out this Project Intake Form to tell us a bit about your project. In the fundraising section of the intake form tell us specifically how you plan to raise funds for your project. Tell us your fundraising purpose for contacting us at this time. 
    • Once we review your form, we will contact you within a few days to schedule a consultation if you are a good candidate for the program.
    • In the meantime, start preparing your application, instructions are here.
  14. I am returning with a project that was previously fiscally sponsored. Do I need to apply again?
    Yes, we are required to have current information on file for all projects. To submit an updated application you can update your previous application. Depending on how recently you last applied to the program the application may have changed, please compare your application to the guidelines to ensure all sections are included in your updated version. Upload your application via the How to Apply page. Applicants with confirmed funding are prioritized.
  15. How should I prepare for the fiscal sponsorship consultation meeting?

    The consultation meeting is an opportunity for you to talk candidly about your project and ask questions about the fiscal sponsorship program. It is an opportunity for us to meet, develop a rapport, and mutually get to know your project and the fiscal sponsorship program.

    • To prepare, read the information on the website before the meeting. In this meeting you can ask questions about what you read. We will not have time to read the website during the meeting if you have not already gone through it.

    • We see the best results when the filmmaker is invested in their fundraising when they apply to the program. Be prepared to talk specifically about how you initially plan to raise funds that require fiscal sponsorship. Most project fundraising plans grow and evolve throughout the life of the project. We are interested in hearing about how you plan to get started and raise the first $30,000 using the program.

    • We will send you a calendar meeting invitation, make sure you know what time the meeting is in your time zone.

    • Meetings will be on-camera using Zoom unless you request an exception. TFC will supply the Zoom link. Plan to be in a stationary, reasonably quiet place, where you can focus on the meeting with your camera on.

  16. What is the application deadline? Once I apply, how long does it take to get a decision?

    There is no application deadline; you can submit it anytime. Please note that responses around holidays or film festival travel will take longer. Please check with us if you are trying to meet a specific deadline.

    • Most applications are reviewed within three to four weeks of submitting a complete proposal. If your application requires edits and/or additional information, you will be contacted by email with details.
    • Applications with donation pledges or awarded grants that require fiscal sponsorship to accept the grant are prioritized. Applications with a well thought out fundraising strategy and a reasonable chance of raising those funds is given particular emphasis. Projects that do not have fundraising plan to get started are not eligible.
    • If you have committed funding and require an expedited application process, this may be accommodated, for a fee, on a case-by-case basis. Inquire using the Project Intake Form, provide details about your committed funding and urgency in the Fundraising section.
    • Applications submitted around major holidays or film industry events will extend the application timeline after the conclusion of the holiday or event.  Industry events we often participate in include Sundance Film Festival in January, Hot Docs in May, Tribeca Film Festival in June, and the Toronto International Film Festival in September, our attendance schedule changes from year to year. Holidays include the week of July 4, December 23 - 31, and U.S. bank holidays. When in doubt, ask.
    • When your application is approved, you will be notified of acceptance and start-up deliverables by email.
  17. Is my application confidential? Are donors to my project confidential?
    Applications are confidential. Private funding sources are never shared by TFC.
  18. Can I apply for fiscal sponsorship for more than one project?

    Absolutely. Films are funded individually and should therefore apply separately and have a separate TFC membership for each project. If you are applying for sponsorship of more than one project, we will want to see that you have sufficient resources, staff and organization to manage multiple projects at the same time.

  19. I want to apply to a single funding source or grant opportunity, will you be my fiscal sponsor?
    TFC gives priority to projects with a diverse funding plan that demonstrates how the project will be funded should a single unconfirmed source not come through. Applications for projects that plan to apply to a single funder are unlikely to be approved unless the funder has given you a very strong indication that your application will be approved.
  20. Are International applicants eligible to apply?

    International filmmakers are encouraged to apply, with some exceptions. Due to US comprehensive sanctions, filmmakers residing in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and the following regions of Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk) are not eligible to apply. As a US-based nonprofit organization, TFC is not allowed to provide funding support to any person or in any country/territory that is the subject of sanctions administered by the US Government except as permitted under US law. This website has more information about these laws and regulations.

  21. Why does TFC use the Nonfiction Core Application for fiscal sponsorship applications?
    The Nonfiction Core Application was developed through a collaborative effort by grantors who regularly fund film projects to standardize application requirements. We use it to help applicants prepare the materials required to apply for grants once you have fiscal sponsorship. Consider this a head start on your first grant application or funding request, you will be able to re-use and/or modify this document for grant applications and other potential funders. This will be a document that you will work with throughout the life of your project as it moves toward completion. Lastly, as part of the fiscal sponsorship application process we will provide feedback when we feel a proposal could be stronger. This is included in your application fee and a benefit that filmmakers would normally pay a consultant for. If you receive feedback on your application consider it one step closer to developing a proposal that funders will fund.
  22. The application asks for a logline, what is a logline? Should I include my script in the application?
    A logline should include the The Who, What, When, Why and How. A concise and informative summary of your story in 20-30 words max. Also see: VIDEO: Script Tip: How to Write a Logline.

    As much as we would like to read your script we do not have the bandwidth to read scripts for every application. Please follow the proposal guidelines on the How to Apply page.

  23. Why is the funding plan for my project so important?

    Once we love your project we want to make sure you have a funding plan that it is realistic and achievable. We see the best results when the filmmaker is invested in their fundraising before applying for fiscal sponsorship and asking us to invest in you.

    TFC supports each project we invite into the fiscal sponsorship program and we want to know that you are ready and prepared to “hit the ground fundraising.” Your funding strategy will likely mature and evolve along with the project. When you apply, we don’t expect you to know where all your funding will come from, however, you should know how you will raise the first $30,000 from sources that require fiscal sponsorship.

    Your application should show how you plan to utilize the fiscal sponsorship program. Successful applicants will have done their homework, know the difference between funding that requires fiscal sponsorship and funding that does not and are able to present a plan and budget figure for both. Be prepared to provide names of funders, deadlines and amounts for identified sources.

    Applicants with strong projects and donation pledges or awarded grants in need of fiscal sponsorship are prioritized.

    Awarded grants: A few funders allow you to apply for funding before you have a fiscal sponsor in place. This is rare, but it does happen occasionally. Once the award you a grant they will require you to apply for fiscal sponsorship. If this is your situation, please tell us in your application.

    What makes a very strong chance of getting a grant?

    • Your project has been invited by a funder to apply for a grant
    • Your project is a very good fit for the funding opportunities you are applying to
    • You are a previous grantee of funder(s) you are applying to
    • You’ve been told by the funder your chances of being awarded a grant are high

    Isn’t being required to show planned use for the program a chicken and egg situaton?

    No. You should be able to explain why you are applying for fiscal sponsorship, and give some concrete examples that will assure TFC that making the effort to support the project will at least cover the cost of doing so. A donation pledge is a promise to donate: a donor can make a promise to donate once fiscal sponsorship is in place. An application for fiscal sponsorship will most likely be approved if you can show you have a need for the program, and, of course, a solid project proposal that adheres to the application guidelines.

    If you are applying for fiscal sponsorship with no plans to utilize the program, perhaps you’d like to have it available in case you encounter a chance to use it. There are a few fiscal sponsors who have the bandwidth for this, however, TFC works closely with projects and we invest time and resources in, we don’t have the capacity to maintain projects on our roster for “just in case” fundraising scenarios.

  24. Do I need to have a fundraising plan for my ENTIRE budget? Is there a fundraising minimum? Is there a maximum amount I can raise for my project?

    The fundraising plan for most projects grows and evolves over the life of the project.

    At the time of application you should have a plan to raise at least $30,000 from sources that require fiscal sponsorship. TFC’s fiscal sponsorship program is not subsidized, therefore, a minimum raise is required to cover the basic cost of TFC time and resources required to establish fiscal sponsorship for a project. Exceptions may be made on a limited and case-by-case basis, for example, if you have secured a single substantial donation please contact us to inquire. Applications that do not contain a funding plan with solid information are not approved.

    There is no maximum fundraising limit.

  25. What is a donation pledge?

    A donation pledge, or pledge, is an agreement to make a donation in the future.

    Collecting pledges gives you the opportunity to assess if you have enough donation support to warrant applying for fiscal sponsorship. Once you have fiscal sponsorship in place you can go back to the people who made pledges and tell them where they can make the payment to fulfill their pledge, this is also known as making a donation.

  26. Why do you want to know how I will raise funds outside of the fiscal sponsorship program?
    You may not plan to raise the whole budget from sources that require fiscal sponsorship and that is fine. We want to know what other funding you have committed or plan to approach to demonstrate your budget can be realized and your project can get made.
  27. Why is the budget for my project so important? How do I make an industry standard comprehensive line item expense budget?

    Your budget will back up your funding plan, be as detailed as possible and demonstrate you’ve taken into account all categories of project expenses. Do your best to get well-researched estimates for all project-related costs that you anticipate. We understand that these may change as the project moves forward. Include a fair and industry-standard salary for yourself in your project budget.

    Here are some great budget resources:

    Tips from TFC:
    • If you have a lot of in-kind add an “in-kind” column to your budget.
    • Add 5% fiscal sponsorship admin cost on funds to be raised via fiscal sponsorship only. This cost does not apply to funds raised outside of fiscal sponsorship.
  28. The application requires a comprehensive line item expense budget. Can I submit a budget top-sheet only?

    Applicants are required to submit a line-item budget, in industry standard format, that covers the entire project from development to finish. A budget top-sheet alone cannot be accepted.

    Projects in Development can submit a industry standard formatted line item budget for Development only. At the end of the Development phase a full budget for the remainder of the project is required.

  29. Can I apply for fiscal sponsorship now to have it available in case I ever decide to use it?
    TFC offers fiscal sponsorship for projects that are serious about using sources that require fiscal sponsorship as a significant part of the funding plan. Applicants with donation pledges or awarded grants that require fiscal sponsorship to accept the grant are prioritized. Projects that do not have a plan to use fiscal sponsorship are not eligible.
  30. Can my project have more than one fiscal sponsor?
    TFC does not fiscally sponsor projects that have, or intend to have, another fiscal sponsor unless a) you plan on seeking funding from government organizations that we do not prepare applications for or you are applying for a grant that requires you to have a local fiscal sponsor in order to receive the grant. We request our fiscally sponsored filmmakers notify us when receiving grants through their secondary fiscal sponsor. Bottom line: raise as much money as possible, you only need one fiscal sponsor in most cases, exceptions are rare.
  31. Can I apply for Fiscal Sponsorship at any stage of my project?
    A project can apply at any stage from early development to distribution and impact campaign, if applicable. State the stage you are in at the beginning of your proposal. The remainder of the proposal will be evaluated based on the stage you are in. For example, projects in early development may not have defined distribution goals; projects in post-production should have clearer distribution goals.
  32. What are the criteria for the selection of the projects?

    Please see the Project Review Criteria on the About page.

    Projects with donation pledges or awarded grants that require fiscal sponsorship to accept the grant are prioritized. A well thought out fundraising strategy and a reasonable chance of raising those funds is given particular emphasis. Projects that do not have fundraising plan to get started are not eligible. A plan to fundraise with no specific information is not a plan and is not eligible.

  33. What kind of projects do you sponsor?
    TFC sponsors:
    • Documentary feature & short films and other works of nonfiction
    • Narrative feature & short films and other narrative works
    • Transmedia/multi-media projects with film/video as a primary component of the work
    • Film related events such as film festivals or screening series
  34. Does TFC help filmmakers with fundraising? Does TFC provide funding resources?

    As a fiscally sponsored project, the applicant is responsible for fundraising. Consider your development strategy, project identity and who you will contact as potential sources of funding. TFC can help guide you to the right resources and answer any questions you have, but you will own the fundraising outreach effort.

    TFC has a growing list of funding opportunities for film projects on the Funding Opportunities page.

    Resources useful for finding foundations who may fund projects related to your subject matter:

  35. Where can I get help with grant writing?

    The following are great useful writing resources:

  36. Can I receive grants and funding that do not require a fiscal sponsor?

    You can directly receive funds that do not require fiscal sponsorship. We suggest consultation with a tax advisor to ensure you are accounting for those funds and their tax liability correctly.

    Under the fiscal sponsorship program, only grants and donations are permissible. Investments that generate returns cannot be accepted under this program and are not eligible for tax deductions according to IRS regulations.

    However, projects can seek both donations and investment participation simultaneously. Many filmmakers find relying solely on nonprofit funding sources limiting and opt to attract investors for their projects, particularly in today’s challenging funding environment.

    While financial motivations may differ, investors in documentary projects typically share an interest in advancing the project’s artistic, educational, or charitable goals. We believe it’s possible for a project to have both a charitable purpose aligned with TFC’s mission and a goal of generating returns for filmmakers and potential third parties.

  37. What donation payment types does TFC accept?
    TFC accepts online donations:

    If you email for payment instructions, tell us:
    • Project name
    • Amount
    • Payment method
    • Donor type: private individual, DAF, grant, other (please specify)
  38. Who should a donation check be made out to? What address should check donations be mailed to?

    Check donations can get lost in the mail or take a long time to arrive. Please consider one of the above electronic donation payment methods.

    Checks should be made out to The Film Collaborative. Clearly PRINT the project title the donation is intended for on the memo line of EACH CHECK.

    Mail checks to:
    ATTN: Fiscal Sponsorship
    The Film Collaborative
    3405 Cazador St.
    Los Angeles, CA 90065

    What happens if a donation check bounces?

    If a donation check bounces, the bank will charge a fee, usually $25-$30. The fee is the responsibility of the project and will be deducted from available funds.

  39. Can I receive online donations by credit or debit card to my project? Is there an extra fee?

    Yes. Every Fiscally Sponsored project can have a public profile on the TFC website. Donors can view project information and give by credit or debit card online. Paypal is TFC's payment processor, a PayPal account is not needed, donors can check out as a guest without creating an account.

    Fee: TFC gets a nonprofit rate on credit card fees of 2.2% + .30 per transaction. This fee is taken out of the gross donation amount before TFC receives the funds. Donors have the option of covering the credit card fee, it is an “opt-in” fee as part of the payment process. Approximately 50% of donors to TFC projects cover this fee, which means the cost to the project is zero 50% of the time.

    To donate to a fiscally sponsored project, click here.

  40. What information should I give to someone donating from a Donor Advised Fund aka a DAF?
    • Give your donor TFC’s tax ID: 32-0295081
    • TFC is on file with most major DAF companies. Give the DAF TFC’s Tax ID, if TFC is on file they will have all needed contact info and payment information in their system
    • When possible, wire/ACH payments are preferred. Checks can be mailed to TFC’s address, always include att: Fiscal Sponsorship
    • Donors should tell their DAF to include your project title in the documentation that comes with the payment
  41. Does TFC accept stock donations for fiscally sponsored projects? What is the extra advantage to the donor when they donate stock?

    Yes. Donating stock that has appreciated for more than a year gives donors 20% more than if they sold the stock and then make a cash donation since they will not pay capital gains taxes on the donated stock. Learn more here.

    Email for instructions on donating stock to a fiscally sponsored project. Account numbers are not posted online.

  42. Can I combine crowdfunding with fiscal sponsorship?
    TFC Fiscal Sponsorship can be combined with crowdfunders Kickstarter and Seed & Spark. Please contact us directly for more information. These crowdfunders have staff that are dedicated to assisting film projects. No other crowdfunders have dedicated film campaign staff.
    Before launching your campaign, we request two weeks notice so we can process the set up with your crowdfunder of choice properly. The fiscal sponsorship-crowdfunder connection must be set up PRIOR to launching a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, Seed&Spark may allow it to be added after the campaign has started, this is up to their discretion.
    A $100 admin fee will be deducted for all crowdfunding campaigns, this helps cover the cost of the admin required by TFC to facilitate the campaign.
  43. Does TFC accept matching donations?
    • Many companies have matching gift programs that help donors double, or even triple, the amount of a donation.
    • Each matching company has its own procedure, donors should check with their employer for instructions. 
    • Look up companies that match employee donations on websites such as this one.
    • Matching donations take 2-3 months for employers to process, payments are usually dispersed to TFC on the last business day of the month.
    • Tell your donors to include your project title in their match request to their company. TFC requires the project title to allocate donations.
  44. Can I give donors and funders a credit in my film? How should I credit the people who work on my film?

    You should always credit people who contribute to your film. Credit anyone who contributes funding the same, regardless of whether the funds are a donation or investment.

    In alignment with the Documentary Producers Association (DPA) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA), TFC does not endorse the Producer, Co-Producer or Associate Producer credits to financiers. These are day-to-day producing credits only and these credits may not be bought or sold.

    The DPA endorses Executive Producer level credits for financiers who contribute 10% or greater of the total project budget.

  45. How should TFC be credited in the film credits?
    • As per the fiscal sponsorship agreement, TFC should be acknowledged with a back end credit “Fiscal Sponsorship provided by The Film Collaborative” with TFC's logo.
    • TFC's logo and style guide is available here.
    • The names(s) of TFC staff you worked with directly can go in your Thank You credits.
  46. Can I get in-kind donations for my project? Can someone on my crew or one of my actors provide their services as an in-kind donation?

    Yes. TFC will provide sponsored projects with a letter you can use to request or acknowledge in-kind donations. Some examples of this type of donation include equipment, food for the crew, office supplies, etc., to be used directly for production. Per IRS regulations, the request letter/acknowledgment letter will not specify a dollar amount for the deduction. The donor will be responsible for quantifying the donation and confirming its deductibility. If a donor has questions about the deductibility of a non-cash contribution, they should contact their tax professional. TFC does not provide tax advice.

    To request an in-kind donation letter for your project, email the following information:

    • Donor name, business name, address
    • What you are requesting / what you received, how much, what for, and the date it was / will be provided.
      For example:
      • Use of a location for shooting for 2 days: January 3 - 4, 20xx
      • Food for 8 crew, 3 meals a day x 10 days: January 5-14, 20xx
      • Loan of a lighting kit for 4 days, January 10-13, 20xx (specify what lighting equipment)
      • * Provide as much detail and concrete information as possible, your donor will use this letter to claim a tax-deduction. The IRS requires detailed information to allow the deduction.

    The IRS does not consider the donation of time or professional services to be tax-deductible, they consider this volunteer work. The IRS determines what is and is not deductible, these are not TFC rules.

  47. What information do you need for each donor?
    The IRS requires TFC to collect the legal name and email address for each donor. For donors over $1000 in a fiscal year a mailing address is also required. Every donation must have a real name to go with it, the IRS does not accept nicknames. It is the responsibility of the project to collect this information from their donors, TFC does not contact your private donors on behalf of projects. TFC can release funds once required donor information is on file. Donor information will appear on their tax receipt.
  48. How and when are tax receipts sent to donors?

    In compliance with IRS rules, tax receipts for donations are issued for the amount The Film Collaborative receives after credit card fees, if applicable, are deducted. The Film Collaborative will send donors their tax receipt in PDF format by email at the end of each month. For online donations the receipt that is immediately emailed from PayPal is their payment receipt, not a tax receipt. Tax receipts come from The Film Collaborative only.

    Tax receipts for donations from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are provided to the donor by their DAF company.

  49. How do I request funds to be paid to me?

    Fiscally sponsored projects can request funds by uploading an invoice with itemized expenses from the project budget for all or part of the available balance. Use the template provided, or your own invoice if it has all the elements in the template we provide.

    You may invoice for reimbursement or for upcoming expenses. Please refer to any funder agreements for possible restrictions.

    Payments for funds available to the project are sent on Mondays and Thursdays. Invoices received by 9 am Pacific time on Monday and Thursday will be paid that day. Invoices received after 9 am Pacific time will be paid the next payment day. If a payment day lands on a US bank holiday it will paid the following bank day. Payments are sent electronically.

    Once your payment has been sent, you will receive a payment confirmation by email. 

    TFC pays US bank accounts by ACH or the Viewpost payment service, depending on which bank a project is with. Payments are sent by the method that will deliver the funds to your bank more quickly. The payment method will be determined during the project onboarding process. 

    Payments to International bank account are made by International wire transfer. The timeline varies depending on the country and receiving bank.

    Plan ahead and invoice with enough time to receive the funds before you need them. If you need funds faster than they can be reasonably processed, you may need to pay your expenses and reimburse yourself.

  1. How do I account for project funds received on my taxes?

    The IRS considers donation and grant funds paid to a project as income. TFC will send you an IRS Form 1099-NEC to all entities, with the exception of corporations, by January 31, for any year in which grant or donation funds of $600 or greater were paid to a project.

    Projects are responsible for accurately reporting this income to the IRS and for maintaining their own financial records. Keep all receipts and payment records to show how funds are spent on project expenses. Expenses should account for the income received and reduce tax liability.

    We advise everyone to consult a tax professional about the tax implications of receiving funds through fiscal sponsorship.

    Funds raised but not yet paid to a project are not considered taxable income as long as TFC holds the funds.

  2. What reporting does TFC require?

    Each year, TFC will send each project a Year-End Statement for the previous fiscal year and Annual Report Instructions.

    The Year-End Statement will detail all grants and donations received and all funds paid to the project the previous year.

    TFC requires an Annual Report each year from all projects. The report consists of a status update, current project budget, and if applicable, an Expense Report aka Cost Report if they received funds via TFC the previous year.

    This report is usually due around tax day in the US to make it convenient for applicable projects to complete the Cost / Expense Report section as they are doing their taxes with the same information.

    Projects that are complete or are not moving forward are required to submit this report as a final report. These reports help us understand your project status, and help TFC remain compliant with standards and regulations required to provide the Fiscal Sponsorship program. The Annual Report is also required as per the terms in the fiscal sponsored agreement signed by all projects.

  3. How do I close my project when it is complete or if we decide not to move forward with it?
    When your project is complete and you are done fundraising, let us know and we will close it. You will be required to complete a Final Report, much like the Annual Report. Tell us the project outcome, distribution plans, film festival plans, anything you think we should know. If you decide not to move forward with your project and it is incomplete the closing process is the same.
  4. What if my project does not move forward and I have not withdrawn all the funds raised via TFC fiscal sponsorship?

    Projects that raise some money but are not completed often spend the amount they raise in the development process, therefore, there isn’t usually money left. However, if you were to raise more than you spent before calling off the project the funds are usually reallocated to other projects. See FAQ’s 1 & 3 and follow the link in #3 to read more about the Model C: Pre-Approved Grant Relationship fiscal sponsorship model. In some cases, where the unspent funds came from a single funder they may be returned to the funder. Where the funds came from multiple funders/donors and some money was spent it would be very difficult to determine which funds were spent/not spent. TFC does not get involved in potential disputes and would exercise its variance power as per the fiscal sponsorship agreement.

  5. Will TFC submit federal government grant opportunities on behalf of my project to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)?

    The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) requires a fiscal sponsor to “make substantive contributions to the success of the project. If an application is funded, the applicant (fiscal sponsor) is considered the recipient of record and assumes all programmatic, financial and legal responsibilities associated with the (grant) award.”

    On a case-by-case basis, TFC can submit NEH applications on behalf of fiscally sponsored projects. Your preparation process should be started at least three months before the application deadline:

    • Discuss your project with an NEH program officer at least 3 months prior to the deadline. They can give valuable feedback on your project’s fit for the grant you are considering.
    • If they advise you to move forward, and this is your first time applying to the NEH, submit a draft application to the NEH for feedback. Refer to the application guidelines for each deadline for the feedback deadline date. We advise all applicants to get NEH feedback, it is required for first time applicants.
    • Email TFC to discuss the possibly of us submitting an application on your behalf at least one month prior to the NEH deadline. 
    • * Wednesday, December 4, 2024 is the Draft Review Deadline for the Wednesday, January 8, 2025 Grant Deadline.
    • Deliver all documents to TFC per the detailed application instructions for the grant opportunity. NEH instructions are very specific, they do not accept variations.
    • If you have already been told by TFC that we can submit an application for you for this deadline email your application documents to TFC by 5 pm PT on Friday, January 3, 2025. 
    • If you have not already contacted TFC to ask about submitting an NEH application on your behalf we will not be able to accept a last minute application from you.
    • TFC will submit the application via grants.gov on your behalf. We have all the necessary registrations already in place to handle this part. As the appplicant your job is to prepare the applicant. Do not try to register with grants.gov yourself, you will not be able to submit your own application.

    Your discussion with TFC will involve a review of the requirements to meet NEH’s Substantive Involvement Policy. See the Media Projects Notice of Funding Opportunity document on the NEH Media Projects webpage or page 8 of the 2024-2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information on what substantive involvement means.

    A $100 fee to TFC will offset the cost of the admin time required to submit the application on the grants.gov system on behalf of the project. The fee for Government grants that require direct TFC involvement is 7%, and this fee should be built into the budget you submit to the NEH.

  6. Will TFC submit a grant application on my behalf to the NEA?
    The NEA does not accept applications for fiscally sponsored projects.
  7. I do not live in the US and don’t have a US tax ID, how do I get one?
    Anyone can apply for an employer identification number (EIN). An EIN is a nine-digit number (formatted as 12-3456789) assigned to employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships and other entities for tax filing and reporting purposes. Any questions about the EIN application process should be directed to the IRS. TFC cannot answer questions on behalf of the IRS. Go here for more information.
  8. What is TFC’s full legal name and tax ID?
    The Film Collaborative, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID: 32-0295081
  9. Can I contact you?

    After you have read the information above you can contact us with additional questions. We've put a lot of effort into creating these self-serve resources and hope you will utilize them. 

    If you don’t see your question above, please email us and let us know you didn’t see your question; this helps us know who is reading our resources and what new questions we should consider adding.

    Prospective applicants should submit the Prospective Applicant Inquiry Form to request a consultation on the How to Apply page. Please allow a week for us to respond.

    We are usually able to respond to simple emails within 2 business days. * If your question is answered above we will probably be slower to respond, thank you for understanding the logic behind this.

    If you would like to speak on the phone and you are a prospective applicant please complete the above referenced Prospective Applicant Inquiry Form. Please refrain from spontaneous calls, we run a remote work environment with no front office to receive calls.