Not every mission needs a 501c3, and for those that do, starting a new, independent nonprofit organization can be daunting. The process of applying for nonprofit status and IRS tax exemption is not only costly but also time-consuming, often taking 6-9 months.
Fiscal sponsorship at The People’s Place offers a supportive partnership for mission-driven projects and organizations. As your fiscal sponsor, TPP takes care of the administrative tasks so you can focus on what matters most—your mission and goals. We handle financial oversight, grant management, and IRS compliance, ensuring everything runs smoothly. This partnership opens doors to funding opportunities and gives you the freedom to build your initiatives confidently. At TPP, we see sponsorship as a team effort, working with you behind the scenes while you maintain your unique public presence.
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I have worked with TPP as our fiscal sponsor for Greater Waterbury Pride for two years, and my experience has been consistently positive. Their team has been supportive, responsive, and knowledgeable, especially when it comes to identifying and pursuing grant opportunities. They take the time to explain the process, answer questions, and help ensure our work is set up for success.
Shayvonne Chan
Project Lead
Greater Waterbury LGBTQIA+ Pride Coalition
Project sponsored by The People's Place
Fiscal Sponsorship for
Movement Building
At The People’s Place, we are committed to the power of grassroots organizing to drive social change. We understand that true transformation requires more than passion—it demands infrastructure that supports and sustains these efforts. That’s why we see fiscal sponsorship as essential to building movements.
Fiscal sponsorship at TPP goes beyond financial management. By providing access to resources and a strong network, we empower organizers to focus on what they do best: shift power and create sustainable change.
Whether you’re a mobilizer, cultural worker, direct action leader, or policy advocate, TPP is here to create an environment where your ideas can thrive. Our fiscal sponsorship enables you to focus on transforming communities into healthier, more equitable places to live, work, and thrive.
Application Process
Our application process for fiscal sponsorship is designed with integrity at its core. From the initial inquiry to the mutual agreement, each step is transparent, equitable, and respectful of all parties involved. We believe in open communication and careful consideration, ensuring that every project is given a fair and thorough assessment.
Our process reflects our commitment to ethical practices and aims to foster trust and collaboration, as we work together to support initiatives that align with our mission and values. Ideal applicants are:
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focused on grassroots organizing that addresses systemic inequities
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working toward building collective power in their community
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have (or are developing) a core team of people who share responsibility for the work
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ready to grow beyond an idea into a sustainable initiative
Interested applicants should complete an Inquiry Form via TPP's website to indicate their interest in fiscal sponsorship. Completion of this form does not guarantee approval.
Upon review, TPP will email the applicant with confirmation of our interest to move forward with an invitation to apply.
Upon review, TPP will email the applicant with confirmation of our interest to move forward with an invitation to participate in a 1.5 hour virtual interview with TPP leadership.
TPP leadership will assess the applicant's fitness based on the project’s alignment with the organization’s compliance criteria, values, and existing portfolio. TPP will also engage in further research of the applicant including but not limited to: (1) the review of the project’s website, social media, program literature, and budget; (2) meeting relevant stakeholders such as an existing fiscal sponsor, funder or partner.
TPP will confirm approval of applicants via email with an invitation to schedule an in-person/virtual meeting during which both parties will review relevant documentation and confirm mutual agreement.
In the case of denial, TPP will email the applicant with its decision. Applicants are welcome to re-apply after a 6-month window without discrimination.
The Agreement serves as a legal Memorandum of Understanding between TPP and the project to ensure clarity and agreement on roles, responsibilities, and expectations for fiscal sponsorship. Signage of the agreement will formalize the relationship and kickstart the project's onboarding.
The People's Place
Provides Integrated Support
Corporate Structure
We handle your legal formation, tax-exempt status, and insurance needs, so you don't have to.
Compliance
We ensure your project stays in good standing with IRS regulations.
Staff & Board
Our dedicated back-office team and shared governance structure provide full support.
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Systems
We provide the necessary documents, policies, practices, and technologies for effective management.
Fiscal Management
We keep your books and ensure proper management of your funds.
Incubation
Our Project Development Team offers personalized support to help you achieve your strategic goals.
Racial Justice
Racial justice work aims to challenge and dismantle the historical and continued legacy of racism, anti-Blackness, and white supremacy so that every community can thrive with dignity and safety. This work may include anti-racist education and training, immigrant defense work, and campaigns for police accountability. At TPP, racial justice also means addressing compounding systems of harm such as capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy. We welcome projects who undertake an intersectional approach to ensure systems work for all of us, not against us.
Racial Justice
Building Civic Power
Building civic power means ensuring that everyday people have the tools, confidence, and structures to influence decisions that shape their lives. This work may include voter education and mobilization, leadership development, campaign organizing, and community-led policy advocacy. TPP supports residents to not just “participate” but to build power that can shift how democracy works in Waterbury and across Connecticut.
Building Civic Power
Community Building & Belonging
Community building and belonging is about creating spaces where people feel connected, supported, and part of something larger than themselves. This happens through mutual aid networks, neighborhood gatherings, support groups, and projects that build trust across lines of difference. At TPP, belonging is not an abstract idea — it’s a practice of care, solidarity, and accountability to one another.
Community Building & Belonging
Arts & Culture
Arts and culture work uplifts the creative practices that help communities tell their own stories, shift narratives, and imagine new futures. This includes public art, cultural events, community theater, storytelling projects, photography, and music that reflects the lived experiences of local residents. For TPP, arts and culture are not just expressions, but powerful tools for movement building and reclaiming our narratives.
Arts & Culture
The People’s Place is dedicated to nurturing a vibrant and diverse community of visionaries. We partner with nascent and emerging projects led by people directly impacted by the issues they’re working to change. Our current portfolio includes initiatives across various issue areas that are BIPOC- and/or queer-led, rooted in justice, and committed to collective power.
Projects We Support
OUR PROJECTS
Limited (Model C) Fiscal Sponsorship
Not every organization needs full organizational incubation. Some already have the leadership, operational systems, and financial management capacity to run their own programs, but need access to a 501(c)(3) partner in order to receive grant funding or charitable contributions.
Through our Limited (Model C) Fiscal Sponsorship program, The People’s Place serves as a trusted fiscal and compliance partner for aligned organizations, initiatives, and campaigns doing meaningful work in their communities. Under this model, TPP receives funds on behalf of the sponsored organization, retains an administrative fee, and regrants the remaining balance for approved charitable purposes. Sponsored organizations maintain full responsibility for their own staffing, programming, bookkeeping, operations, expense tracking, and grant compliance.
This partnership is intentionally streamlined and hands-off. It is designed for groups that are already structurally independent and simply need a mission-aligned nonprofit partner to facilitate funding access and compliance oversight. While more limited in scope than our comprehensive Model A sponsorship, we still carefully review each request to ensure alignment with our values, organizational readiness, and our collective commitment to ethical, community-centered work.
Robert Goodrich
Executive Director of Radical Advocates for Cross Cultural Education
We appreciate the level of professionalism and transparency we have experienced during our time with TPP. They are providing a great need to future projects and organizations.
