Fiscal Sponsorship FAQ

Below is a brief overview of our Fiscal Sponsorship policies. Please read carefully before applying. You can find our full policies in our Fiscal Sponsorship Handbook, which can be downloaded below. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at sponsorship@maysles.org.

What is fiscal sponsorship?

A fiscal sponsorship is a relationship between an artist and a non-profit organization that enables the non-profit to extend some of the tax and legal benefits of our 501(c)(3) non-profit status to your project for the purposes of fundraising and finding support. If we sponsor you, it means that we have approved your project as being in furtherance of our mission and agree to work on your behalf.

Fiscal sponsorship extends many of the benefits of being a non-profit organization to your project, but it does not mean that your project is a non-profit itself. This is an important distinction. Maysles Documentary Center (MDC) is the non-profit organization. If we sponsor you, it means that we have approved your project as being in furtherance of our mission, and agree to work on your behalf.  

Technically speaking, we are a re-granting organization. We accept funds from donors and re-grant them to you based on a trusted relationship and shared set of goals. This is different from being a “conduit” or “pass through.” Any funds we receive are under our full control, and we have sole discretion to allocate them as we see fit.

How can fiscal sponsorship benefit my project?

A fiscal sponsorship with MDC will give you the potential to expand your donor base and open new fundraising possibilities. It will allow you to apply for funding from foundations and corporations that support non-profit organizations and also make any individual contributions to your project tax-deductible for your donors. You can also receive access to discounted space rental and non-profit rates for certain services.

What types of projects do you sponsor?

Documentaries are our priority, but we consider projects of all types — including narratives, experimental films, film festivals and series, installations, collectives, and preservation projects — provided they fall within the scope of our mission.

Why Maysles Documentary Center?

MDC follows a long tradition of socially conscious documentary filmmaking. Albert Maysles, our founder, was a pioneering documentarian who believed in the power of film to bring people closer together. He was a strong advocate for discovery-based filmmaking, social justice, and artistic independence.

MDC puts these values into action. We believe in independently produced documentary films, and it is our mission to use our institutional resources to support them. When your project is sponsored by MDC, it becomes associated with the Maysles name and what it has come to represent over decades in the industry.

We have designed our Fiscal Sponsorship program to be straightforward and easy. Most of what you will need to manage your account is available through an online portal, but our staff is on hand to provide personal support. We are invested in your project’s success and are willing to work with you closely through its various stages to completion.

Is there a fee?

We do not charge an application fee for the program. However, if you become a fiscal sponsee, all monetary contributions received by MDC on your project’s behalf will be subject to a 7% accounting and administration fee.

International Sponsorships

MDC can sponsor projects by filmmakers based outside of the US; however, contributions are only tax-deductible for US-based donors. The same relationship explained above also applies to international projects—if we agree to sponsor you, we have approved your project as being in furtherance of our mission and retain control and discretion as to the use of any contributions we receive.

Membership

MDC requires that all selected projects become members at the basic level ($50/year). In addition to making you eligible for fiscal sponsorship, becoming a member of MDC will give you access to free and discounted screenings, workshops, space rental, and other benefits.

Donations

MDC can accept tax-deductible donations from individual donors, foundations, and corporations. We reserve the right to deny funding from any organization that does not align with our mission.

Payment Methods

MDC currently accepts the following types of donations: Credit Card/PayPal, Personal Check, Zelle and ACH/EBT/Wire Transfer. All processing fees will be incurred by your project.

In Kind/Material Gifts

In addition to monetary contributions, MDC can accept in-kind material gifts, such as equipment. In-kind contributions are subject to a $45 processing fee, but are exempt from our 7% accounting and administration fee.

Disbursements

MDC will disburse your funds within 5 business days of your request. We currently offer the following payment methods: Check, Zelle ($5000 limit per transaction), ACH/EBT/Wire Transfer.

Account Information

Your project’s account information, including balance, itemized deductions, and withdrawals will be provided, on request, within 5 business days.

Reporting

You are required to keep accurate and up-to-date records of how you’ve spent any funds you’ve received from MDC. At the end of each calendar year we require an annual report that includes an itemized expense report. We do not require that you submit individual receipts, but we do ask that you keep a record of them in the event that your project is selected for review.

Documents

MDC will provide the documents you need for fundraising, including proof of non-profit status, a letter of support, and budgets/annual reports. MDC will also provide tax letters for your donors and a 1099 for your own taxes.