Support for Artists (via fiscal sponsorship)

Support for Artists (via fiscal sponsorship) is sponsored by New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). NYSCA supports the creation of new work by New York State artists through artist-initiated projects across a wide range of areas. Individual artists must be sponsored by an eligible New York State nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

Fiscal Sponsors & Individual Artist Opportunities | NYSCA Fiscal Sponsors & Individual Artist Opportunities Who can apply through a Fiscal Sponsor? Individual artists and unincorporated arts organizations are not eligible to apply directly to NYSCA.

However, unincorporated arts organizations and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status may apply through fiscal sponsor organizations for our Support for Organizations opportunity, and individual artists may apply through fiscal sponsor organizations for creative grants from our Support for Artists opportunity. Unincorporated arts organizations or groups may not apply for capital funding, even through a fiscal sponsor.

What exactly is a Fiscal Sponsor? A fiscal sponsor organization is a nonprofit organization incorporated or registered to do business in New York State that applies to NYSCA on behalf of individual artists, unincorporated arts organizations or groups, or semi-autonomous arts organizations housed within larger institutions that cannot directly apply themselves.

A fiscal sponsor can also be a state or federally recognized Native nation or a unit of local or federal government. Entities that are LLCs or for-profit corporations, as well as entities that have 501(c)(3) status that would allow them to apply directly, are ineligible to be fiscally sponsored. Who can apply for support through a Fiscal Sponsor?

For specific instructions about applying to NYSCA through a fiscal sponsor, please refer to the corresponding grant opportunities and guidelines listed below: Support for Sponsored Organizations - Organizations with a principal place of business in New York State and not yet incorporated; or not recognized as tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code as a 501(c) (3); or is an organization existing as a distinct program with a parent organization - such as a theater in a university Support for Artists - Artists aged 18 or older and current New York State residents When considering making a Sponsored Request, keep in mind the following: NYSCA funds a year out, requests made in a given year are to fund qualified expenses that occur the following year from when the application is made.

Applications made in 2026 will be to support a project or programs occurring in 2027. All sponsored requests must be made using a NY State based qualified nonprofit organization as their fiscal sponsor. Sponsored artists or groups do not interact with any of our grantmaking platforms, their fiscal sponsor makes the application on their behalf.

NYSCA does not pair Individual artists or groups with a fiscal sponsor, it is the responsibility of those interested in submitting a sponsored request to identify a qualified sponsoring organization and then work with that organization to make an application.

As the custodian of the grant, the sponsoring organization is to distribute any grant issued to the sponsored artist or group on record minus up to 5% of grant award that the sponsoring organization may keep as an administrative fee for administering the grant.

Sponsor must execute NYSCA’s Fiscal Sponsor Letter of Agreement setting forth the services provided by the Sponsor, any fee to the Sponsor, and the responsibilities of the Sponsored Organization relating to the fiscal sponsorship. NYSCA requires the agreement to be uploaded in the SmartSimple application and may request a copy for review during contracting.