Numerous Organizations Help Filmmakers Deal With Financial Matters
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
May 6, 1999 | Read Time: 1 minute
Filmmakers who want to produce a documentary need more than an idea,
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a camera, and a good nose for money.
In most cases, they also need a fiscal sponsor.
A fiscal sponsor is a non-profit organization that acts like an agent for producers who need to raise money to pay for their films. For a fee — typically from 3 to 10 per cent of the amount raised — the sponsor will collect donations in a filmmaker’s behalf.
The sponsorship arrangement sets up a way for individuals to receive tax-deductible contributions from individuals and corporations, and tax-exempt gifts from foundations and government agencies.
The arrangements allow filmmakers, who often work on a project-to-project basis, to avoid the hassle and expense of establishing and maintaining their own non-profit group. Some organizations that act as sponsors for filmmakers also offer other support services to clients, including fund-raising consultation or the use of camera or editing equipment for free or at a discounted price.
Although fiscal-sponsorship arrangements are not limited to filmmakers or other artists, they are commonly used in the filmmaking field.
The following is a sampling of organizations around the country that act as fiscal sponsors for filmmakers:
- Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (also the Foundation for Independent Video and Film), 304 Hudson Street, New York 10013; (212) 807-1400; http://www.aivf.org.
- Center for Independent Documentary, 1608 Beacon Street, Waban, Mass. 02168; (508) 528-7279; http://www.documentaries.org.
- Film Arts Foundation, 346 Ninth Street, Second Floor, San Francisco 94103; (415) 552-8760; http://www.filmarts.org.
- International Documentary Association, 1551 South Robertson Boulevard, Suite 201, Los Angeles 90035-4257; (310) 284-8422; http://www.documentary.org.
