How much does fiscal sponsorship cost?

Administrative Fees

Community Partners charges 9 percent of project revenues from private sources and in general charges 15 percent of project revenues from public sources. Fees for public funds are higher because the agencies granting them typically require complex contracting processes, extensive reporting, frequent audits, complex invoicing to receive payments for project activities, and drawn-out processes for changing contracts. Fees are charged when funds are received and deposited in your project account (not when promised or pledged). 

Each project is required to pay a minimum of $2,000 per year in either administrative fees, or as an assessed fee at the end of the fiscal year.

The small amount of interest earned on project fund balances is used to help offset the cost of operating the fiscal sponsorship program.

The administrative fees paid to Community Partners go toward a wide range of services including accounting and bookkeeping, accounts payable, contract oversight, tax filings, year-end audit, lobbying filings, legal advice, tracking and reporting for independent contractors, general liability insurance, governance and oversight, human resources, employee benefits, technical assistance and more. 

Insurance Fees

Liability insurance: $200-$1000 annually*

*This varies if your project involves higher-risk activities, such as an after-school program, summer camp, theater project, or professional counseling. You are charged an additional general liability insurance fee in October depending on the type of activity and number of participants.

Special event insurance: Varies, the cost for the event insurance, as well as a fee for any additional certificates (generally $40 per certificate), will be charged to your project.

Community Partners provides detailed information on how to request a certificate and how insurance rates are determined.

Optional Additional Fees

Expedited Checks

Checks issued as part of the regular weekly check run are covered by the administrative fee. However, there is an additional $15 fee for each rush check that is issued. This fee increases to $50 per check if you request more than 3 rush checks in a one-month period. 

Online Donations 

Community Partners absorbs the cost of using Bonterra's donation, event ticketing, and peer-to-peer (crowdfunding) fundraising pages. With this, your project can create as many pages as you'd like. If you choose not to set up your own page, your project will be included in the drop-down menu on Community Partners' page.

There is a 3 percent credit card processing fee for donations to your project via the Community Partners website. This is assessed by Bonterra before donations are forwarded to your project account.

Please note the following regarding the balance of funds held in your fiscal sponsorship account:

• Community Partners requires each project to maintain an eight-week operating reserve 
  
• In order to hire employees, your project must have a six-month operating reserve