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The following FAQ will answer the majority of applicants' questions. Please review them before beginning the application process.
For Frequently Asked Questions about fiscal sponsorship, click here.
1. What is the application process to become a project of Tides Center?
Tides Center receives over 500 inquiries each year from potential projects. To help us respond to these inquiries we have created a step-by-step online process to apply. Here's an overview.
STEP 1: Determine if project fits within Tides Center’s mission and legal framework.
STEP 2: Verify that your project meets Tides Center’s minimum eligibility requirements.
STEP 3: Make your initial approach to Tides Center via the online Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The LOI is reviewed internally by Tides Center staff within 2 to 3 weeks.
STEP 4: Tides Center staff invite those eligible candidates who fit our current criteria to submit an application. Application is by invitation only.
2. What is Tides Center looking for in the Letter of Inquiry?
While many people are in the beginning stages of developing their organization, the Letter of Inquiry should paint as complete a picture as possible. Even if you have not figured out all the answers, we are interested in knowing your best thinking to date. Some of the things we are interested in seeing in the Letter of Inquiry should include how the proposed activity connects to the Tides Center mission, a clear fundraising strategy, what funds have been confirmed, how far along your project is and who is behind the effort.
3. What comes first—fiscal sponsorship or finding funding?
While these activities can be done simultaneously, before submitting the Letter of Inquiry to Tides Center you must have funding confirmed as well as a clear fundraising plan to sustain your charitable efforts. If you are invited to submit a full application, Tides Center can work with you to communicate to donors that you are in the process of obtaining fiscal sponsorship. In most cases, this is sufficient for you to continue raising funds.
4. Does Tides Center provide funding or assist with fundraising?
Tides Center does not provide funding to projects. Organizations accepted as Tides Center projects are responsible for developing and executing their own fundraising plans. Tides Center manages confirmed grants and grant reporting. In addition, as part of Tides Center’s capacity-building program, projects can attend workshops and online trainings on fundraising topics; and, through Tides Center’s partnership with the Foundation Center, all project staff have access to and training on the Foundation Center’s Online Directory to research grantmakers and their grants.
5. What if I need a fiscal sponsor immediately, or sooner than the stated application processing period?
Because there are numerous steps prior to accepting a new project, an expedited process cannot always be guaranteed. Indicate your timeline in your LOI.
6. What if I need some, but not all, of the services provided by Tides Center?
Tides Center provides a comprehensive suite of back-office services to all projects and at this time we are not able to allow groups to choose from among our offerings. If you need specific, rather than comprehensive, services check our list of Additional Resources. While our list is not exhaustive, you may find other organizations that can provide just the services you require.
7. How does Tides Center handle my organization's funds?
Tides Center manages all money in and all money out. Tides Center processes all financial transactions on behalf of our projects. Once funds arrive for a project, a fund number is assigned; all future expenses and revenue transactions are associated with this fund. Tides Center provides a financial orientation that covers budgeting, coding expenses, monitoring expenses, the Tides Center chart of accounts, reading and utilizing the monthly financial statements prepared by Tides Center. Invoices are paid on a weekly basis via our weekly check run, and expedited payments are available for an extra charge. Projects are able to access their funds via business credit cards, direct invoicing, and petty cash accounts. Projects are responsible for coding transaction, submitting original receipts, honoring our timelines and monitoring cash flow.
8. What is the relationship between project employees and Tides Center?
As the fiscal sponsor all paid project staff are legally employed by Tides Center. As such, they will receive their paychecks from Tides Center and are eligible for Tides Center's comprehensive health and dental benefits at the expense of the project.
9. Does Tides Center provide health and dental benefits?
All full-time staff of Tides Center projects are required, and part-time staff are eligible, to participate in a comprehensive health and dental benefits package. Medical and dental benefits are offered through separate insurance carriers, with different HMO and individual provider plans to choose from. Coverage for spouse, children, and domestic partners is also available at the direction of the project.
10. Are Tides Center projects permitted to lobby?
Tides Center encourages projects to engage in forms of lobbying and political activities permissible under our 501(c)(3) designation. We are obliged to track all such activities, as the IRS places a cap on total lobbying expenditures. Projects may engage in non-partisan research and get-out-the-vote efforts. IRS regulations for 501(c)(3) nonprofits preclude Tides Center projects from engaging in direct support or opposition of a candidate for political office.
11. Who serves as the board of directors for a Tides Center project?
The Tides Center Board of Directors has the full governing, legal, and fiduciary responsibility for all Tides Center projects and employees. As part of our services as a fiscal sponsor, Tides Center assists each project with the development of an advisory board or other governance structure appropriate to the project’s stage of development, size, and scope. Project advisors and advisory boards typically assist projects in areas such as fundraising, strategic planning, program oversight, and outreach. Tides Center's Board of Directors is responsible for legal, taxation, and regulatory issues, policies and procedures, the audit and audit committee, whistleblower policy, conflict-of-interest disclosure policies, and all other compliance issues.
12. Who owns copyrights, trademarks, and intellectual property?
The copyright for any product, such as books, videos, websites, project names, and trademarks, produced by a Tides Center project is owned by Tides Center. Any royalties from such products are revenue to the project that produced them. These products may be transferred, along with other assets, to any independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, including the project itself, should it incorporate as a 501(c)(3).
13. Does Tides Center provide insurance to projects?
The majority of sponsored project activities are covered by our mandatory insurance package, which includes general liability insurance, property coverage, and commercial auto liability. Projects should budget a minimum of $1,000, or between 1-2% of total annual revenue for insurance in addition to the 6%, 9% or 15% cost of being a project: information on the cost of being a project can be found here: www.tidescenter.org/services/cost/index.html
14. What is the relationship between Tides Center and Tides Foundation?
Tides Foundation serves as a grantmaking organization primarily through the management of close to 300 donor-advised funds. Unlike other foundations, Tides Foundation does not have an endowment, and all grants are made on the recommendation of donor clients. Tides Center applicants and projects may apply to Tides Foundation, but no preference is given. For more information about Tides Foundation, see www.tidesfoundation.org.
15. Can Tides Center serve as fiscal sponsor to organizations doing work overseas?
Tides Center primarily serves as fiscal sponsor to organizations that work within the United States. Groups working internationally are eligible to become projects provided they have operations and a base or branch in the U.S. that can serve as a counterpart to an overseas location.
