How to Apply

Preliminary Application Form

NSN proudly announces a new pilot program that will greatly expand our members’ ability to raise funds from foundations, corporations, and individual donors for their storytelling projects.

Why does NSN need a Sponsored Member Program?

NSN’s own Grants Program is expanding yearly, but NSN alone will never be able to fund all of its members’ excellent storytelling projects.  Members need grants from other sources to bring their dreams to reality.   

The Sponsored Member Program enables NSN’s individual and affiliate group members to apply for funds under its non-profit umbrella and thus opens up many new avenues for funding.  NSN fiscal sponsorship complies with IRS regulations for donations by foundations and corporations, and also enables individual donors to direct their contributions to a non-profit organization and receive a tax deduction while supporting storytelling projects. 

Who may join?

Any individual or affiliate member of NSN is eligible to join the SMP. But only the first 20 applicants will be accepted into the pilot program, which runs until July 2008.

How do we join?

Applicants to the Sponsored Member Program will submit a brief description of the projects for which they wish to raise funds, sign a Letter of Agreement with NSN that outlines responsibilities and procedures, and participate in a telephone orientation session.  Upon acceptance into the program, the member pays an annual fee of $25 to cover NSN’s costs.

How does the program work?

To receive NSN fiscal sponsorship, the SMP member submits each grant proposal or fundraising letter to the SMP Review Committee, which will read the submissions to assure that: 

• they are consistent with the mission of NSN;

• their submission will not compromise or duplicate any of NSN’s fundraising initiatives;

• they are clear, accurate, and well-written, so as to maintain the reputation of NSN as sponsor of a consistently high caliber of grants.  (The review committee will exercise no control over artistic content; it simply supports the applicant in presenting a good proposal.)

• The review committee will report the results of its review to the applicant within two weeks of receipt of grant proposals, and within one week of receipt of solicitation letters.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to present materials well in advance of any grant submission deadline. 

If the review committee finds that a proposal or letter is not yet ready for approval for submission to a funder, it will provide a free 15-minute consultation with the applicant.  After the consultation, the applicant may either choose to revise the materials independently and resubmit them to the committee, or opt for coaching from a consultant provided by NSN who will help with the revisions.  (The fee for consultations is $40/hour, billed in 15-minute increments.)

The SMP Review Committee must approve a proposal in writing before NSN will act as fiscal sponsor and the proposal may be submitted to a potential funder.  After this certification, NSN will provide the applicant with whatever documentation of its tax-exempt status is required by the funder.

Receipt and disbursement of funds: 

Taxes: 

Members will receive an IRS 1099-misc form if they earn more than $599 through the SMP in a calendar year.  The IRS recognizes this 1099 as taxable income.  Members should contact appropriate experts (the IRS or tax accountants) regarding how to file at tax time, and should keep track of receipts showing how they are spending their grant money.  (Most artists do not pay additional taxes on grants because they deduct their art-related expenses from this 1099 income.)

Fees:  

To join the Sponsored Members Program, NSN members pay an annual fee of $25 regardless of how many proposals they submit.  In the event that a grant is awarded or a donation received through the SMP, NSN will deduct an administrative fee of  eight per cent (8%) from the sum.  Contributions received via credit card will incur a credit card transaction fee that NSN will deduct from the donation.

Final reports: 

If a grant is awarded or contributions are received from individuals through the SMP, the member is responsible for keeping track of expenses and income for the sponsored project.  In the case of grants, members must submit the final report to NSN’s SMP Review Committee before sending it to the funder.   It is important for members to submit final reports and any other items requested by the funder within the stipulated time frame, since grantees who do not complete final reports jeopardize every other member’s chances of getting funding from that source.  Individual donors also appreciate hearing from recipients of funding at the end of a project, so we recommend communicating with all donors regardless of explicit requirements.

For more information about this and other grants programs, please contact the National Storytelling Network’s office in Jonesborough, TN at 1-800-525-4514

How to Apply