Fundraise for your project

• Is art-focused and intended for a public audience
• Has a definite scope and timeline
• Is nonprofit in nature and not designed for private or commercial gain
• Is seeking funding from foundations, institutions, or tax-deductible donors
• Plans to raise at least $15,000 in contributed income* through NYFA

Your project may take place outside the United States, as long as the project director has a US Taxpayer Identifying Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN) and the project provides a clear public benefit to US audiences.

*Contributed income includes grants requiring 501(c)(3) status and tax-deductible donations. It does not include earned income or in-kind contributions.

• A grant or source of direct funding
• A network that connects projects to funders

Your project gains access to NYFA’s 501(c)(3) status for fundraising purposes.

You are responsible for your own fundraising. NYFA does not fundraise on your behalf.

Donations are received by NYFA and held in your project account, along with grants that require a fiscal sponsor. For Artist Projects, only contributed income* flows through NYFA; earned income goes directly to you.**

*Contributed income are funds given to support your project with no goods or services exchanged. Includes grants requiring 501(c)(3) status, tax-deductible donations, and crowdfunding through Seed & Spark. 

**Earned income refers to revenue generated in exchange for goods or services, such as ticket sales, workshop fees, merchandise sales, or other payments made for services. 

NYFA ensures funds are used for the project activities described in your contract.

You submit payment requests for project-related expenses. These may be reimbursements to you or your collaborators, or payment to vendors. NYFA processes payments on a weekly schedule.

Creative direction, programming, and decision-making stay with you. NYFA provides the nonprofit structure and financial oversight.

Projects are contractually required to renew each year by submitting an annual status report and renewal fee in order to remain in the program. If a project is not actively renewed, the fiscal sponsorship will lapse. 

When your project is complete, notify NYFA so the fiscal sponsorship can be formally closed.

For individual artists, collectives, LLCs, or corporations leading a defined project.

• Contract can be with an individual or a business entity
• Only contributed income (grants and donations) flow through NYFA
• Donors may receive the benefit of a tax deduction
• Earned income (ticket sales, workshop fees, merchandise, artwork sales) must be handled outside of NYFA*
• No nonprofit incorporation required

*Artist Projects may generate earned income, but the project itself must remain nonprofit in nature.

For organizations incorporated as nonprofits at the state level.

• Designed for organizations with an array of ongoing programs and extensive operations
• Contributed and earned income flows through NYFA
• The organization operates within NYFA’s nonprofit financial structure
• Often used as a bridge while working toward independent 501(c)(3) status

• Have no definite scope, timeline, or public-facing outcomes
• Are commercial or profit-driven
• Seek equity investors, profit-sharing, or ownership returns
• Involve lobbying or political campaign activity
• Attempt to start a private foundation or give grants

• Are seeking general support for an ongoing artistic practice (NYFA sponsors projects only)
• Are completing undergraduate, graduate, or thesis work as a course requirement

The eligibility form confirms basic eligibility of the project and project director. During the application process, a review panel assesses feasibility and program fit.

Please note: applicants do not need to live in New York City or New York State to apply.

You will need:

• Project description with scope, timeline, and public-facing outcomes
• Budget showing projected income sources and expenses
• Work samples demonstrating your ability to complete the project
• US tax ID

All applications, including support materials, should be submitted online via Submittable.*

First-time users will need to register with the free Submittable platform to access the application portal.

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted and no exceptions will be made. We strongly recommend that applicants complete their applications in advance of the deadline to avoid potential technical problems.

Applicants will receive an automatic response from Submittable once their application has been successfully received.

You will receive a response within four weeks after the deadline.

Sign your contract with NYFA, complete the required online course, and set up your project page on NYFA’s website.

Fiscal sponsorship is a contractual relationship that allows a nonprofit organization to share its 501c3 tax-exempt status with a person or group whose activities serve the sponsoring organization’s mission.

This arrangement enables the sponsored project to receive some of the benefits of having it’s own 501c3 status, such as applying for grants and soliciting tax-deductible contributions.

There are several different models of fiscal sponsorship and NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship is a model C style program. To learn more about the field of fiscal sponsorship, check out Social Impact Commons’ Fiscal Sponsorship 101.

501c3 is the tax determination given to a non-profit charitable organization at the federal level. This IRS designation allows donors to receive the benefit of a tax deduction for supporting a public charity.

NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship is a separate program from NYFA Awards & Grants.  

If you wish to apply for a grant through NYFA Awards & Grants, you can find programs currently accepting applications through this link. 

No. NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship is not a corporate or event sponsor.

No. Projects are responsible for fundraising and the day-to-day operations of their project.

Fiscal sponsorship is a practice throughout the nonprofit sector and NYFA is one of many organizations who offer this service. Our fiscal sponsorship program serves the arts and cultural sector through a Model C style program. To learn more about the field of fiscal sponsorship, check out Social Impact Commons’ Fiscal Sponsorship 101.

NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship is evaluating the best ways to serve our community. We are temporarily accepting projects on a limited basis until July 2025.

You may submit an application online for NYFA’s program using this application form.

Emerging Organizations must be incorporated as a nonprofit organization on the state level. If your organization is not incorporated as a nonprofit at the state level, we invite you to apply to the Artist Project branch of our program.

Artist projects can be individual artists, unincorporated artist collectives, groups, or organizations. Artist projects are specific projects, rather than an artist’s entire practice. We can sign contracts with individuals, LLCs, or corporations.

We sponsor projects across the United States, as well as some international projects. A United States SSN or EIN is required for all projects. A project director does not need to be located in New York City or New York State to apply.

Artist Projects and Emerging Organizations each pay an annual renewal fee and submit an annual report to remain in the program. Artist Projects have a contract term, which may be extended as long as they are actively fundraising for and executing their projects. Emerging Organizations are sponsored on an ongoing basis.

Through fiscal sponsorship, individuals and groups receive some of the benefits of 501c3 tax exempt status. In order to receive this benefit, sponsored projects must add value to the public sphere and not only benefit someone’s private gain. Fiscally sponsored projects benefit the public by engaging in activities such as film screenings, exhibitions, performances, or talks which explore their project, offering programming or services to the public, etc.

All fiscally sponsored projects participate in an administrative cost allocation. This allocation is based on a percentage of funds raised:

• 8% for $0 – $500,000
• 6% for $501,000 – $2,000,000
• 4% for $2,000,001 and greater

Artist Projects pay a one-time contract fee of $150 to join and an annual renewal fee of $150 (effective July 1, 2025) for the duration of the project. There is also a flat 3% fee on credit card processing.

Emerging Organizations pay a one-time contract fee of $150 to join, an annual renewal fee of $150 (effective July 1, 2025) for the duration of the partnership, and a quarterly account maintenance fee of $45. There is also a flat 3% fee on credit card processing.

Artist Projects and Emerging Organizations both receive access to staff for assistance with project management, fundraising strategy development, and grant application feedback. We are here to support you and are happy to connect via phone, email, or Zoom conversations. Artist Projects also receive a profile page on the NYFA website with a link to a donation portal unique to your project.

Applicants are notified within three weeks of submitting an application.

Since every project is unique, we do not provide copies of past applications.

NYFA is an exclusive fiscal sponsor and we do not allow you to use multiple fiscal sponsors for the same project. We make rare exceptions on a case-by-case basis if NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship does not meet the geographic requirements for a specific grant.

Yes. To do so, you need to apply separately for each project because each project has its own contract with NYFA. It is not possible to transfer funds between different fiscally sponsored projects.

Yes, you can pay yourself as the project director and for being an artist on the project. We recommend up to 20% of your total project budget for this fee.

Each project is evaluated based on its feasibility, public benefit, and fundraising plan. Successful applications address each application question in detail.

Yes we can fiscally sponsor international projects, as long as the work also benefits U.S. taxpayers and the project director has a social security number or EIN. Please note that to send funds internationally, we use wire transfers and there is a $50 fee/wire.

No. Project directors retain creative control and ownership of their project/organization.

No. Fiscal Sponsorship cannot be used towards undergraduate, graduate, PhD studies, theses, or other degree-seeking student work.

No. NYFA is only able to issue acknowledgement letters for tax purposes for in-kind donations of tangible goods.

No. NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship does not raise funds or solicit donors on behalf of sponsored projects.

No. NYFA does not file taxes on behalf of any sponsored project. Projects that raise funds through NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship are legally responsible for reporting money they receive from their project as income to the IRS.

No, projects are responsible for filing their own taxes and providing 1099s to it’s own vendors.

Donations via check, direct deposit/wire transfer, and stock are processed weekly on Fridays and you will receive an email when the deposit is complete. Donations via credit card are processed every 7-10 business days and you will receive an automatic email when a donation is made.

Payments are disbursed on a weekly basis.

• Artist Project payments requests are due Mondays at 5:00 PM ET and are processed 10 days later on the following Thursday.
• Emerging Organization payment requests are due Fridays at 5:00 PM ET and are processed on the following Tuesday.

Our standard fiscal sponsorship agreement does not allow for private investment. In limited circumstances NYFA has an addendum to our contract. Please contact us if you are interested in accepting private investment or equity for a sponsored project.

A private or equity investor provides financial support, in order to receive a financial return on their investment or obtain ownership or equity in the project. An investment is different from a donation because no goods or services are received for a donation.

Our crowdfunding partner is Seed&Spark. When donors give through your Seed&Spark campaign, they can receive the benefit of a tax deduction.

NYFA cannot process donations from any other crowdfunding platforms including Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, or a subscription platform like Patreon, your donors will not receive the benefit of a tax deduction. You are free to use these platforms on your own, but you can not use them through NYFA or offer donors a tax deduction for funds raised through those platforms.

Yes. These sources of earned income (for example, the sale of art or prints, ticket sales, workshop fees, etc.) should be included in your income budget. More on income budgets in this post.

No, you are responsible for getting your own insurance.