About Fiscal Sponsorships

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks serves as a fiscal sponsor for projects that align with its mission and vision. The CFO’s fiscal sponsorship program works with mission-driven organizations, groups, projects and collaborations that do not have 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and want to advance charitable causes and uplift their communities. 

The CFO’s objective is to provide resources, investment support, resource development support, technical assistance and the ability to accept charitable contributions to emerging organizations. The CFO’s efforts help launch confident and competent organizations that understand the nonprofit landscape and have viable plans to operate independently. 

Frequently Used Forms 

• Fiscal Sponsorship Information and Application Form — For current fiscal sponsorship projects and those wishing to become a fiscal sponsorship project under the CFO.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Vendor Payment/Distribution Requests — Current fiscal sponsorship projects complete this form to pay invoices to vendors.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Individual Reimbursement Requests — Current fiscal sponsorship projects complete this form to reimburse individuals for expenses incurred for the project. 

Benefits of Having Fiscal Sponsorship

Having fiscal sponsors provide essential infrastructure and support for grassroots initiatives, promoting community development and fostering a collaborative and empowered local nonprofit sector

• Supporting Grassroots and Charitable Initiatives: Fiscal sponsors empower community-driven projects and grassroots initiatives by providing them with the infrastructure to operate effectively.  
• Quick Project Launch: Community projects can launch quickly without the administrative delays associated with establishing a separate nonprofit entity, allowing them to address urgent needs, saving time and resources.  
• Enhanced Fundraising Opportunities with Access to Tax-Exempt Status: Fiscal sponsors enable community projects to access tax-deductible donations, grants and other funding sources that require nonprofit status, thereby expanding their fundraising opportunities. 
• Administrative Efficiency: Community initiatives and projects can focus on their mission while the fiscal sponsor handles administrative tasks such as financial management, reporting and compliance, thereby streamlining operations.
• Enhanced Accountability, Financial Oversight and Compliance: Fiscal sponsors possess knowledge of nonprofit regulations, reducing the risk of compliance issues for sponsored projects and ensuring adherence to legal requirements and that sponsored projects operate transparently and responsibly. This enhances accountability and trust within the community. 
• Resource Sharing and Collaboration: Fiscal sponsors can pool resources, share administrative services, and provide economies of scale, making it cost-effective for multiple projects to operate under a single organizational umbrella. Sharing resources, knowledge and best practices among community projects will promote a culture of mutual support and learning, setting projects up for success.
• Capacity Building: Fiscal sponsors can offer educational and training opportunities for community projects, fostering skill development, improve governance, develop sustainable practices and enhance the overall capacity of the community.  
• Access to Network and Partnerships: Fiscal sponsors hosting multiple community projects contribute to a diverse and vibrant philanthropic portfolio, addressing a wide range of community needs and interests. This can result in collaboration, partnerships and shared learning opportunities within the nonprofit sector.  
• Risk Mitigation: Fiscal sponsors provide guidance, support and oversight for charitable project operation to be compliant with regulatory bodies and nonprofit best practices, avoiding unnecessary challenges for the project.
• Increased Credibility: The CFO is a reputable and trusted community partner throughout central and southern Missouri. This credibility instills confidence in donors, partners, and stakeholders and carries through to our projects.
• Flexibility in Fiscal Sponsorship Models: Fiscal sponsorship offers flexibility with different models, allowing sponsors to tailor their support to meet the unique needs and goals of each sponsored project.  
• Transition Support: Fiscal sponsors can provide guidance and support when sponsored projects are ready to transition to independent nonprofit status, ensuring a smooth and well-prepared transition process.