"The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community." -William James

Fiscal Sponsorship Program

What is the Fiscal Sponsorship Program? 

The William James Association is a non-profit community service corporation operating under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS tax code. Through its Fiscal Sponsorship Program, the Association assists individuals and community organizations consistent with its service mission by providing administrative support, tax-exempt status, and fiscal sponsorship. The purpose of the William James Association Sponsorship Program is twofold:

• Provide managerial support and guidance to individuals and organizations so that they may produce temporary projects or begin to develop as ongoing organizations.
• Ensure funding agencies and contributors that funds are well-managed, spent according to their guidelines, and that proposed services are delivered.

As a fiscal sponsor, the William James Association can provide:

• Sponsorship of grant applications and administration of grant funds through a pre-approved grant relationship.
• Formal acknowledgment to funding sources and monitoring of expenditures to ensure that they are in keeping with the original proposals, contracts, or funding letters.
• Staff consultation on writing of grants and final reports to funders (sponsored party is responsible for actual writing of all materials).

The sponsored project remains a separate legal entity that is liable for its own taxes, insurance and debts.

Both temporary projects and developing organizations can be considered for fiscal sponsorship by review of our board of directors. Areas of interest are Santa Cruz and greater SF Bay Area projects in the arts, environment, education and community development. We do not generally serve groups outside of the greater SF bay area, however we will consider fiscal sponsorship of correctional arts projects.

Sponsored affiliates of the William James Association have included local programs such as Poetry Santa Cruz, Be In Your Own Band and Santa Cruz Baroque Festival; and correctional arts projects such as the San Quentin production of John Brown's Body and WillowGate Theatre Company.

In order to receive sponsorship, projects must be approved by the William James Association Board of Directors. Applications are welcome at any time, with the understanding that they are reviewed at regularly scheduled board of directors' meetings.

Download an application and application instructions in PDF format.

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