INN Fiscal Sponsorship

Start strong: INN can be your fiscal sponsor

A If your news organization is launching or converting to a nonprofit, you don’t have to wait to start raising money. INN can serve as your fiscal sponsor — giving donors a way to make tax-deductible contributions to support your mission while you get up and running or await IRS nonprofit status.

As an established 501(c)(3), INN accepts and manages donated funds on your behalf, ensuring they’re used to advance your mission. We keep costs as low as possible to support your growth.

Why INN?

We’re news people. Our fiscal sponsorship program is built specifically for news media and rooted in INN’s mission of supporting nonprofit newsrooms. We follow best practices for fiscal sponsorship and are a member of the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors. The program is flexible and won’t interfere with your editorial independence, nor get in the way of your relationships with employees, vendors or donors.

Where do you fall?

Startup news organizations

We don’t require minimum levels of committed funding when you start — just a $500 onboarding fee, with monthly cost sharing phased in as you go. That gives you time to build your fundraising operation without pressure. Supporting strong nonprofit news startups is central to INN’s mission.

News organizations converting to nonprofit status

INN is one of the few fiscal sponsors that welcomes short-term arrangements, so we can serve as a bridge sponsor for commercial media converting to nonprofit status, setting up nonprofit arms or spinning off from existing nonprofits.

Not sure how long you’ll need sponsorship?

That’s fine — there’s no minimum or maximum period. Many organizations seek sponsorship while pursuing their own 501(c)(3) status, then either go independent quickly or decide if it makes sense to stay longer. Financial advisers who work with nonprofits often recommend startups remain in sponsorship until they reach approximately $500,000 in annual revenue. Wherever you land, we’ll help you get there.

How fiscal sponsorship works

• Once INN sponsors your program, all charitable funding — grants and donations — is made out to INN and tracked separately in INN’s accounting system for your program.
• INN retains 7% of incoming charitable revenue as cost sharing: charity registration, IRS 990 filings, annual audits, monthly transaction reporting and donor tax receipts. Sponsored programs are responsible for their own bookkeeping and financial management.
• INN maintains control of your funds and releases them at your request. You pay your own bills, and reimbursement from INN requires a stated purpose aligned with your program’s mission, and documentation of the expenses.
• INN sends acknowledgments to donors above $250 on behalf of your program. We want to support your donor relationships — not insert ourselves into them.
• You’re responsible for corporate registration, state and local taxes and any taxes on earned (noncharitable) revenue.
• When you’re ready to go independent, we’ll help transfer your assets and set you up to operate successfully on your own.

Rates

There’s a $500 onboarding fee, plus monthly cost sharing based on revenue. Additional fees may apply in some circumstances. Download our Fiscal Sponsorship Program Manual for full details.

Apply

Fiscal sponsorship is available to INN members. You can apply for membership and fiscal sponsorship at the same time.