Fiscal Sponsorship

WHAT IS FISCAL SPONSORSHIP?

Fiscal sponsorship is the largest component of the Production Assistance Program. It’s designed for women filmmakers who are actively fundraising for their film and need 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt status.

Non-profit tax-exempt status is required by many foundations, corporations and government agencies in order to be eligible for funding since many do not accept application proposals from individuals. Additionally, 501(c)(3) status allows you to receive charitable deductible contributions from individuals—a major incentive for individuals considering making a donation to your project. 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

As your fiscal sponsor, Women Make Movies acts as a non-profit tax-exempt umbrella organization that accepts and administers contributions made to your project. WMM is legally responsible for the funds received on behalf of fiscally sponsored projects and must ensure that the funds are used for charitable activities, as agreed upon between the donor and recipient, and that the donor reporting requirements are met in a timely fashion. It does not mean that we are your producers, fundraisers, or in any way connected to the content or actual production of your project. All artistic and proprietary rights, title, and interest in and to the completed project will belong to the Project Director and may be copyrighted in the Project Director’s name.

Fiscal sponsorship does not provide grants or conduct research for individual project funding. Fiscal Sponsorship with WMM is also not a guarantee of Distribution. If your project fits our mission (specifically, it is about women or women’s issues), you may certainly submit your film for Distribution consideration at the appropriate time.

FEES

$35 Annual Fee

WMM serves as the project’s exclusive fiscal sponsor throughout the production of the project. The amount of funds to be raised is a minimum of $50,000 (If you end up not being able to raise that amount, you are not penalized). We will sponsor the distribution and outreach life of a project provided you submit a proposal detailing your plans for this phase when you get to that point.

Administrative Fees

• Regular Contributions: 6%
• National Endowment for the Humanities: 7%
• National Endowment for Arts, State Humanities Councils or other types of government grants: 7%
  • Except New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA): 5%
• Credit Cards: 6% regular WMM fee + 3% fee imposed by credit cards
• When cumulative donations for a single project reach $350,000: 4%

FAQs