Artwork by Juana Alicia (piece in “CARAVANA” exhibition, fiscally sponsored by SOMArts Feb 2021)
We Hear You Guatemala/Te Oimos Guatemala, 1984. Photograph by Nicole Emanuel, Image courtesy of the artist

Our Program

For over a decade, SOMArts has provided administrative support and financial oversight to a small, thoughtfully selected group of emerging not-for-profit organizations and projects ranging from a few thousand to more than one million dollars in annual activity. SOMArts’ fiscal sponsorship program ensures funding agencies and contributors that funds received on behalf of sponsored projects are well-managed and disbursed according to the grant proposal and guidelines.

SOMArts provides two models of fiscal sponsorship: Model A and Model C. For Model Cs, our management fee is competitive at just 8%-9% of all income raised by the project. Because Model A services also include employee management and insurance coverage, our management fee is 10%.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Projects must be approved by SOMArts’ advisory board who meet quarterly, applicants should anticipate a waiting period. Grant submissions and fundraising can begin only after a project has been approved.

Eligibility

SOMArts will consider projects for fiscal sponsorship if they are:

  • Aligned with SOMArts’ mission to leverage the power of art as a tool for social change, including projects of all artistic disciplines as well as community-based art projects
  • Serious in intent and well-planned
  • Showing potential for future growth and development
  • Led by individuals with a history of successfully executing creative work and managing budgets effectively (mentoring is also provided to improve upon these skills)

If you have questions about our program before applying, please email fiscalsponsor[email protected] and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.

Fiscal sponsorship benefits:

  • Sponsorship of grant applications and administration of grant funds and individual donor contributions
  • Monitoring of expenditures to ensure they are in keeping with original funding proposals, contracts or funding letters
  • Staff consultation on writing of grants and final reports to funders
  • Discounts on rehearsal and meeting space in SOMArts’ classrooms

Current Projects Include: