MAP Fund | Fiscal Sponsorship

For Individuals

The MAP Fund is awarded to nonprofit organizations, as opposed to individuals. However, individual artists and unincorporated ensembles may apply to MAP through a Fiscal Sponsor. Fiscal Sponsorship is a financial and legal relationship between a non-profit organization and an artist or ensemble. The fiscal sponsor (also known as a 'fiscal conduit' or 'umbrella organization') lends the artist/ensemble the right to use the sponsor's non-profit status in order to apply for tax-deductible grants and contributions. In exchange, the artist/ensemble usually pays a percentage of funds raised, along with processing fees, to the sponsor. The degree of oversight and level of fees vary considerably among organizations. MAP requires that applicants demonstrate a sound and legal arrangement between artists and their fiscal sponsors.

For information about finding a sponsor for your project, we recommend the following resources:

The New York Foundation for the Arts website hosts a database that can search for fiscal sponsorship organizations across the United States.
The Foundation Center website provides a thorough overview of issues around sponsorship and links to sponsoring organizations.

For Organizations Sponsoring Artists

Sponsoring individuals and unincorporated ensembles for a MAP application.

Step 1. Create an Account for your own organization.
The creator of this account will be the person who receives all MAP-related information and correspondence.

Step 2. Tell us about your organization.
Once you enter the application, you will be prompted to read the application guidelines and provide information about your organization. A variety of organizations act as sponsors for MAP grantees, and it's helpful to us to understand a little about the nature of your sponsoring services and artist agreements.

Step 3. Create an account for your sponsored organizations.
After telling us about your organization, you will register each of your sponsored projects by telling us their email address and password. After you've registered your artists, they may access the application on their own and provide information about themselves and their project.

Step 4. Notify your sponsored artists that you have registered them and they may now begin the application process

Step 5. Review the applications of the sponsored project
We suggest you review the applications your organization is sponsoring before they are submitted. You may view and print all applications you have sponsored from your own MAP account.

December 3, 2007:
Guidelines available and online application open

February 1, 2008:
MAP FUND DEADLINE

Mid-June, 2008:
Formal notification of awards and declinations

2008 Grant Period:
September 1, 2008 - August 31, 2010

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