Question 1

What is fiscal sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

Fiscal Sponsorship is a formal agreement where a current nonprofit serves as a sort of incubator for new charitable projects created by someone else. Fiscal sponsorship can give you the ability to accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants without 501c3 status.

Question 2

What is Mazlo?

Accepted Answer

Mazlo is the online platform used to manage the fiscal sponsorship program. Sponsees can view donor information, create donation pages, create debit cards, submit expenses for reimbursement, submit bills for online bill pay, and more.

Question 3

How do I apply for fiscal sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

You can apply by filling out the online application at fiscalsponsorshipallies.org/apply-2/. It is free to apply. If approved, you sign the fiscal sponsorship agreement, pay a setup fee, and they handle the rest.

Question 4

Do you provide funding to charitable programs?

Accepted Answer

No. Fiscal Sponsorship Allies does not provide funding and does not accept funding proposals. They do not offer professional fundraising services, though they publish general fundraising content in their email newsletter, blog, and social media.

Question 5

Will we be able to see information about who donates?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sponsees can log in to Mazlo to view incoming donations, including amount donated, donor name, and email address, usually within the same day the donation was made.

Question 6

Can I cancel fiscal sponsorship at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, most sponsees can use fiscal sponsorship as long as they would like, provided they are in good standing. An exception applies to sponsees who have received time-bound grant funding.

Question 7

What is included in the 3.89% administrative fee?

Accepted Answer

The core services of fiscal sponsorship are included: processing online donations, sending donation acknowledgements, reviewing receipts for compliance, upkeep of the software, and providing real-time donation information.

Question 8

What is required to keep my fiscal sponsorship active?

Accepted Answer

Sponsees must use funds for charitable purposes and document spending through Mazlo, including submitting receipts for expenses.

Question 9

Do you provide fiscal sponsorship in every state?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Fiscal Sponsorship Allies is able to provide fiscal sponsorship in every state in the US.

Question 10

Do you offer bookkeeping services for charitable projects?

Accepted Answer

Bookkeeping services are not currently offered. However, Mazlo simplifies the bookkeeping process for many sponsees.

Question 11

If my nonprofit has 501c3 status, can we still use fiscal sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Existing 501c3s can use fiscal sponsorship to obtain 3+ years of financial statements for grants, solicit donations in all 50 states, and have donation processing and acknowledgements managed on their behalf.

Question 12

How soon can I start fundraising after being approved?

Accepted Answer

Once you have signed the fiscal sponsorship agreement, paid the setup fee, and fully set up your Mazlo account, you can begin accepting donations online immediately.

Question 13

How long will it take for us to start receiving funding?

Accepted Answer

Credit and debit card donations are often available instantly. Check donations may take a few days to clear but will be available after that.

Question 14

What kinds of projects do you fiscally sponsor?

Accepted Answer

Charitable programs and projects in the United States that meet IRS requirements for charitable activity. Exceptions include HOAs, programs involved in politics or lobbying, films, and open source software.

Question 15

When will I hear back about the status of my application?

Accepted Answer

Inquiries are responded to within 2 business days. An approval or denial is usually sent within that time frame, though additional questions may be needed in some cases.

Question 16

Will I be able to accept grants through fiscal sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

Often yes. Applicants should check with their grant provider to confirm they accept fiscally sponsored projects. Federal grants are not currently accepted.

Question 17

How can I fundraise through fiscal sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

Once approved, signed, and set up, you can accept online donations through custom donation forms and web pages. Check, stock, ACH, and wire transfer donations are also accepted.

Question 18

How can we access donations and spend funds?

Accepted Answer

All financial management is handled through Mazlo. You can view donations, create debit cards for purchases, and submit receipts, invoices, and bills through the platform.

Question 19

How can I make a donation form or page in Mazlo?

Accepted Answer

A step-by-step guide with photos is available at: https://scribehow.com/viewer/Create_Campaign_Donation_Page_in_Mazlo__XKvT4kBLQKysPcXRATHliQ

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