FAQ

Once a project is accepted for comprehensive (or Model A) fiscal sponsorship and signs a project sponsorship agreement, Community Partners charges 9% on all funds raised from private grants, individual contributions, fees for service, or other activities. We charge 15% on all government grants and contracts (because these funds are more complicated to administer), including federal, state, county, city, or school district funds. After a project’s first year with Community Partners, it will be required to raise funding sufficient to generate $2,000 in administrative fees ($22,500) or simply pay the full $2,000 minimum fee if it does not.

After a project is accepted for limited (or Model C) fiscal sponsorship and signs a project sponsorship agreement, Community Partners charges 6% on all funds received. Government grants administration will be accepted on a case-by-case basis for all limited projects. Learn more about our limited fiscal sponsorship program here.

Yes. A number of established nonprofit organizations have chosen to make their home with Community Partners, appreciating a new operating structure that allows them to better focus on mission. Please indicate in your application to us that you have incorporated already. If you are accepted for fiscal sponsorship with us, you will no longer be able to conduct business under the incorporated entity. If there are any outstanding liabilities, you will not be considered for sponsorship until they are resolved.

In the last few years we have accepted roughly 25 percent of the proposals we receive on an annual basis.

No. Unfortunately, Community Partners does not have the staff capacity to review drafts of proposals. We recommend asking your advisory board members to review your proposal and offer you feedback before you submit it to Community Partners.

On average, Community Partners has between 180-185 projects in our fiscal sponsorship programs.

It takes Community Partners a minimum of six weeks to accept or deny a proposal. This six-week cycle begins the first of every month. For example, if you submit a proposal on the 4th of the month, Community Partners will not begin the review process for that proposal until the 1st of the next month.

Budgeting is a critical aspect of program planning. Even if you have not yet raised funds, you will need to determine the costs of putting your vision into action. You will also need a variety of revenue sources to pay those expenses. We provide a budget template with the application in order to help you map out revenues and expenses for your project’s next year.

In reviewing your proposal, we are looking for a realistic projection of what your project will cost and a strong plan for raising those funds. Your expenses should reflect the activities you describe in your proposal. While you may not yet have commitments for grants, individual donations, or other fundraising activities, we are looking for evidence that you have researched these possibilities. For example, it is not enough to list “grants” alone as a line item; you must identify foundations that have historically given to your type of nonprofit, and at what levels.

We sometimes receive proposals from entities that could operate either as a business or a nonprofit (e.g. consulting, arts programs, counseling, products of use to nonprofits, camps, after-school programs, etc.). Some come from individuals or groups that offer a service through a business and would like to offer the same service on a free or reduced-cost basis to disadvantaged communities. These types of applications are best suited for limited (or Model C) fiscal sponsorship.

Please note we do not accept projects that appear to benefit an individual or business entity in any way. However, for-profit entities can operate charitable programs, and as a result, their charitable arm can accept tax-deductible contributions through limited (or Model C) fiscal sponsorship.

Typically, if your proposal is turned down, you will receive a letter or phone call that will explain the reasons why it was turned down. While you are allowed to rewrite your proposal and re-apply, we recommend that you honestly and sufficiently think through and address the reasons we give you for having rejected it. Keep in mind that if you do re-submit a proposal, there is no guarantee that it will be accepted the second time around

No, our model is to provide counsel and training to help you build the skills you need. We review all grant proposals and provide feedback before you submit them to funders.

No. There is no fee to submit a proposal.