Fiscal Sponsorship vs. 501(c)(3): Quick Quiz

What's the realistic funding scale you're planning for, within 3 years?(Required)

Under $50,000/year — a small, focused initiative

$50K–$250K/year — meaningful but contained

$250K–$1M/year — a real organization

Over $1M/year — institutional scale

Will the cause need to own assets or employ people?(Required)

No — it's a grantmaking, advocacy, or programmatic effort with no staff or property

A contractor or two, but no full-time employees and no owned property

Yes — employees, but no real estate or vehicles

Yes — employees AND real estate, vehicles, or significant equipment

What's the time horizon?(Required)

A specific project or campaign with a defined end (5 years or less)

A multi-year initiative we expect to wind down eventually

An ongoing program we want to run indefinitely but stay nimble

A permanent institution we plan to build over decades

Do you need grants that require independent 501(c)(3) status?(Required)

No — funding will come from individual donors, family networks, or our own backing

Maybe — we'll explore grants but they're not core to our funding plan

Yes — institutional grants matter, but many funders accept fiscally sponsored projects

Yes — our target funders (major foundations, government programs) explicitly require independent 501(c)(3) status

How do you want governance and control to work?(Required)

I want operating control and prefer not to manage a board of directors

I'm fine with a small advisory board but want flexibility

I want a real board structure but appreciate flexibility on setup

I want fully independent governance with majority-independent directors

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Fit Score

Should you start a Community Support Fund — or form your own 501(c)(3)?