Model C Fiscal Sponsors

  • 1.  Model C projects asking us to go to a conference on their behalf

    Posted 02-10-2026 18:35

    We have a model C project that we join their steering committee calls in place of holding separate check-in calls with the project leads. There’s an annual advocacy conference they attend that this year they asked my FS manager to join. Mainly because the organizers of the conference also provide grants to regular attendees and last year they didn’t have enough folks attend to meet the eligibility for the grant.

    My FS manager asked me if he should attend. They offered also to provide reimbursement for his travel expenses (from money we manage!). Even though they’re a model C, I just don’t feel comfortable with this. It seems to blur a line between project and sponsor.

    Anyone have advice to share?

    (cc: @Robert Gibson)



  • 2.  RE: Model C projects asking us to go to a conference on their behalf

    Posted 02-10-2026 18:49
    Hey, Jasmine!

    I agree. Unless the advocacy conference would benefit the fiscal sponsor/the way you all can support the larger work of your fiscally-sponsored projects, this would also be a no for me. Nice they offered to cover travel expenses (maybe? but also seems a tad backward/off base if the goal is to increase the chance of receiving grant funds).

    I would share that this type of support (?) isn’t something you’re able to offer your fiscally-sponsored projects.


  • 3.  RE: Model C projects asking us to go to a conference on their behalf

    Posted 02-10-2026 19:29
    This is a really interesting one… on the one hand, I think about setting precedent i.e. do you have the bandwidth to do this as a part of your practice, is it a one off, etc? On the other hand, conceptually it’s interesting in that in a model C we are “sponsoring” this separate entity to do the org’s mission aligned work so it could make sense, especially if it’s content that your org focuses on. I may also want to double check that you wouldn’t be taking on the project’s liability in some weird way by getting more involved in this way. Hmm….


  • 4.  RE: Model C projects asking us to go to a conference on their behalf

    Posted 02-10-2026 21:28
    @Oliver Hack capacity/bandwidth is definitely more the issue. I wouldn’t ask them to reimburse him but our budget is tight on travel and this is one that wasn’t anticipated.


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