Fiscal Sponsorship is an alternative to establishing your own 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. It allows you to apply for funding for your non-commercial project to foundations and organizations requiring the recipient to have nonprofit status. As your fiscal sponsor, Filmmakers Collaborative serves as the nonprofit tax umbrella organization that accepts and administers contributions made to your project. FC does not control the editorial content of your project and is not connected, in any way, to the actual production. All creative control belongs to the filmmaker.

Why is FC Fiscal Sponsorship Different?

Selecting the right sponsor for your project is crucial because potential donors carefully consider the track record of your fiscal sponsor. Established in 1986, FC has sponsored more than 65 projects. Many of our films have had national and international prominence, won awards and have been shown both on national television (e.g. PBS) and at festivals throughout the world.

Filmmakers Collaborative fiscal sponsorship covers film and video projects that fall within the following categories:

a) documentary films and other works of nonfiction;
b) narrative, experimental, and animated films;
b) films produced by first-time filmmakers.

How FC Fiscal Sponsorship Works

Once accepted, FC acts as your project’s exclusive fiscal sponsor for the duration of your project.

Fiscal fees are as follows, subject to change:

• current fiscal fee is 5% of all production income requiring a 501(c)3, but goes down to 4% once a filmmaker has raised $250,000.

• the minimum annual fee for maintaining the books and records of a project and membership in FC is two hundred dollars ($200) per year; this fee will be waived for filmmakers who bring in that amount or more in fiscal sponsorship fees.