Collaborative Proposals + Fiscal Sponsorships

Collaborative proposals

Meyer believes that partnering with organizations, people and communities allows us to collectively identify and address key needs and opportunities.

Collaboration is one of our core values. Nonprofits rely on collaboration as a key strategy. For example

• In advocacy work, nonprofits create coalitions that increase their influence;
• Collaboration allows nonprofits to scale their efforts, strengthen their programs or streamline operations;
• Collaboration allows nonprofits to tackle complex, systemic issues by bringing all stakeholders together to coordinate their efforts to achieve lasting impact. 

We understand that deep collaboration takes significant time and resources and we support these efforts through our grantmaking.

Collaborative proposal applications

A collaborative grant is a grant that supports a collaborative effort, such as a coalition, that is not a separate organization, but includes multiple partners/organizations carrying out a project/joint effort with agreed upon goals.

All collaborative partners must be eligible to receive a direct grant from Meyer, so must be one of these types of organizations:

• 501(c)(3) public charities
• State, local, or tribal governments
• Faith-based organizations

Examples of collaborative grants are those in which: 

• Several partners are working together on a large, joint project and at least two of the partner organizations receive a portion of the grant funds to carry the goals of the proposal;
• One or more of the partners receive support for planning a joint policy campaign on behalf of the collaborative; or
• One organization receives funds on behalf of a collaborative to hire staff to coordinate the collaborative.

For collaborative grants we expect that the following elements would be in place and clearly documented in the application: 

• Collaborative structure and priorities are inclusive and demonstrate equitable approach; 
• Roles and responsibilities of collaborative partners are clearly defined and demonstrate an equitable approach; and
• Decision making processes demonstrate an equitable approach.

Fiscal Sponsorships

Meyer will accept grant applications from fiscal sponsors on behalf of other charitable organizations.

Definitions:

Fiscal sponsor: a 501(c)(3) public charity that has assumed legal and financial responsibility for the proposed project and will receive and administer the grant on behalf of the sponsored group. 

Sponsored organization/group: a separate entity that will perform the charitable project.

Fiscal sponsorship application guidance:

• Sponsored organizations are only eligible for project support grants.
• The fiscal sponsor must be classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
• There must be alignment between the fiscal sponsor’s mission and the proposed project.
• The sponsored group or organization should be listed as the applicant organization. Information about the fiscal sponsor will be provided in a special section of the application form.
• A signed Fiscal Sponsorship agreement covering the period of the proposed project must be submitted with the application.
• A detailed project must be submitted with the application. The fiscal sponsor may charge a percentage of the project funds as a sponsorship administrative fee, and this may be included in the project budget submitted with a Meyer application as long as the two organizations have agreed to this in writing.

Fiscal sponsorship grant award guidance:

• If awarded, the fiscal sponsor organization will execute the grant agreement and will receive grant payment(s) from Meyer. History of payments will appear under the fiscal sponsor’s organization record in the grantee portal.
• The grant will appear under the sponsored organization’s record in the grantee portal. Staff of the fiscal sponsor organization will be given access to the grant record and the grant report forms.