For more information and to peruse our film slate, please visit film site at www.reelhope.org

Fiscal Sponsorship Program for Filmmakers

We know about offering fiscal sponsorships to filmmakers because we’ve been on your side. Our first film we produced, Holden On, was a fiscally sponsored film through From The Heart Productions before we founded Reel Hope. As filmmakers and producers, we know what works and what doesn’t work for you. We tailor crafted our fiscal sponsorship program specifically to fit the filmmaker and producer. Our fiscal sponsorship program is personal; we take a very limited number of projects because we demand that you reach your fundraising goals. You have a film to make. Your story can change the world. Let’s make that happen.

We only work with social issue/social justice/cause based projects.

Fiscal Sponsorship is used primarily when a film or media-related project wants to secure funding from individual, foundation, government or corporate sources that give only to nonprofit organizations with IRS tax-exempt status. To be considered exempt, an organization must hold a current 501(c)(3) certificate from the IRS. 

Rather than attempt to secure tax-exempt status, individual filmmakers may contract with a fiscal sponsor to extend tax-exempt status to that specific project. As a Fiscal Sponsor, Reel Hope serves as a conduit for financial resources and provides support and oversight for independently produced projects. 

Reel Hope Fiscal Sponsorship program provides you security of working with an established organization. Reel Hope does not take ownership of any part of the results of the project’s work. As fiscal sponsor, Reel Hope assures that the project will use the grant funds received to accomplish the ends described in the proposal. This is the model of fiscal sponsorship primarily utilized in the arts. 

Reel Hope charges an administrative fee for funds granted through our Fiscal Sponsorship program. This 7% fee covers the cost of running the program and managing donations to your project, including bookkeeping, distribution of funds, reporting to funders, maintaining the website, etc.

*Reel Hope is a dba of IAMHOLDENON Inc.

Projects We Sponsor

  • Documentary feature & short films

  • Narrative feature & short films

  • Multi-media projects with film or video as a primary component of the work

  • Projects must align to our nonprofit mission. Find it here.

  • Reel Hope gives priority to projects that have a solid plan to utilize the fiscal sponsorship program for all or a portion of the project budget. We work with projects that plan to raise $50,000 or more via fiscal sponsorship.

Fees

  • No Application Fee

  • Minimal admin fee structure:

    7% on funds raised $1 to $99,999

    6% on funds raised $100,000 to $199,999

    5% on funds raised $200,000 to completion of project

  • Online donations incur processing fees for each transaction. This fee is passed on from the credit card processor and is not a Reel Hope fee.

Eligibility

  • Project must represent a social issue/social justice/cause based topic.

  • The applicant must be a producer and/or director of the project, must hold artistic, budgetary, and editorial control, and must own the copyright of the proposed project.

  • The project may be in any stage of development, production, post production or distribution.

  • Projects must be seeking funding from individual, foundation, government or corporate sources that give only to nonprofit organizations with IRS tax-exempt status.

  • Crowdfunding campaigns to be combined with fiscal sponsorship are also eligible.

  • Applicant does not need to live in the United States or be a U.S. citizen to apply for fiscal sponsorship. If you are located outside of the US please contact tamlin@hopegiversga.org to discuss how we can work with you.

Project Review Criteria

Elements we look for in a project we will sponsor:

  • Project tells a compelling story

  • Project director and/or team are experienced and capable of completing the project

  • Audience is identified with a realistic plan for reaching and engaging that audience

  • Project has a realistic and well-planned fundraising strategy for using fiscal sponsorship, fundraising outside of the fiscal sponsorship program, and a reasonable chance of raising sufficient funds to complete the project

  • Budget is industry standard and realistic

Project Approval

Upon approval of your project the following will be requested. Further information and instructions will be included in follow-up correspondence tailored to your project’s unique needs.

  • Sign Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement stating that you will:

    • Keep track of all expenses connected with the project

    • Spend donated funds on project expenses included in the budget approved by Hope Givers

    • Comply with all funder reporting requirements, on time, as per the funder’s schedule

  • Provide a signed W9 form

  • Provide film assets to create a donation page for your film.

  • We will set up a welcome Zoom session with our team and your team.

  • Bi-annual Zoom sessions with Reel Hope and your team to ensure your project is meeting its goals and deliverable dates.