Finally, there’s a targeted way to identify the gaps in your fiscal sponsorship program – and address them
If your fiscal sponsorship program is like most others, it was created – and grew – organically, as your organization carried out its mission and realized there were additional needs it could help support.
And whether or not fiscal sponsorship is your organization’s main activity, your program has likely grown over the years (or decades, in some cases) essentially in a silo.
So your organization has been doing things “its own way” for a while – without much external input or review. And sometimes, that’s totally fine.
If you have a great attorney, accountant/finance team, insurance broker and auditor, your team might have the support it needs to be doing all of the right things, operating efficiently, staying current with changes in the sector, and keeping your risk minimized.
But, in most organizations, there isn’t a dream team of external support that really understands fiscal sponsorship and works with your staff to keep things operating smoothly. In most organizations, there are important gaps in knowledge and capacity that have developed over the years that can leave you exposed in all kinds of ways.
And, no matter what, at some point someone in your organization will stop and ask one (or more) of these questions:
- How well are we doing this?
- Could/should we be operating any differently?
- What improvements can we make?
- Are we leaving ourselves open to more risk than is necessary?
And with so much variety in how fiscal sponsors operate, and so little FS benchmarking data out there, it’s very difficult to answer those questions in a meaningful way without some external intervention.
That’s where our Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment (FSPA) service comes in.
Our FSPA is a highly-modular and customizable set of intertwined assessments so you can choose the parts that are relevant to your current situation (see below for more details). If you want us to assess your entire FS program from soup-to-nuts, we can do that. But if you’re just looking for help in one or two areas, we can focus our efforts on just those areas.
What would it be worth to you to know that your fiscal sponsorship program:
- is totally in compliance and your risk was managed?
- runs without straining your staff or operating budget?
- is a source of pride and positive energy for your organization and the community?
Well, that is exactly what we can help you do.
Fiscal sponsorship is a noble endeavor — but that doesn’t mean it can’t hurt your organization. Wouldn’t you like to make sure your program is running the way it should?
- The fees for the Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment depend on 1) the level and quantity of areas you’d like us to review and 2) the size and complexity of your FS program. Our current pricing is as follows:
- All three groups (A, B and C): $16,000-$25,000
- Each individual group (A, B or C): $7,000-$12,000
- Each individual pod: $4,000-$8,000
- If you have questions or would like to discuss mixing/matching certain items, please email us.
- Length of Engagement: the FSPA usually takes about 2-6 months to complete, depending on level and quantity of areas we’ll be reviewing.
Because of the size and nature of these engagements, we only take on one per quarter. If you’re interested, please email or book an introductory call now (by clicking the button below) to see when we could get started.
FAQ
What is the Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment?
- The Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment is a consulting engagement to help leaders of fiscal sponsorship programs improve their Program’s operations. No matter what stage you are at, Schulman Consulting can show you how to shore up your program.
Who is the Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment for?
- The Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment is for fiscal sponsors that are looking to take improve their program.
How does this work?
- Once you schedule your introductory call we’ll get on the phone for 20-30 minutes to talk through your current situation. After that call, we’ll set a start date after which we’ll work with you to do a thorough review of your fiscal sponsorship program and determine where the issues are — and how they can be resolved. Once our report is complete, we’ll discuss our findings and recommendations with you.
How come I’ve never seen anything like this before?
- Good question. Today, more than ever before, there are more options for startup nonprofits — and offering fiscal sponsorship is being seen by more and more nonprofits as a way to help those in their communities successfully start new projects. There are a number of legal and accounting guides to help organizations create and manage a fiscal sponsorship program, but the time is right for a specialized service focused on the operational aspects of running a fiscal sponsor.
How much does the Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment service cost?
- It depends on how comprehensive of an assessment you’re looking for, so the cost can vary a bit, but usually falls within a range between $7,000-$8,000 (for a single pod) and $25,000 for a full assessment. By moving forward with your project, you and we both agree to our terms of service.
What are the payment terms for the Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assessment?
- Payments are usually made in two equal installments — one before the work gets started and one after the initial recommendations are provided.
What if I’m not happy with the results?
- Our goal is to provide you the tools, information and peace of mind to understand what it takes to run a successful fiscal sponsorship program — and actually do it. Our success is based on your success. If we start a project and determine that we can’t provide you with actionable recommendations, we will refund your money. If we get to the end of the project and you’re not satisfied with the results, we will make best efforts, to provide you with the information and resources that meet your needs.
You haven’t answered my question yet – how can I reach you?
- The easiest way is to fill out the contact form over here, or you can email us at hi@sandbox.jakebinstein.com
Ok, I’m ready to get started – what’s next?