Fiscal Sponsorship

The Independent Filmmaker Coalition fiscal sponsorship program was created to support IFC members seeking funding for projects. The filmmakers chosen can use the IFC nonprofit status to receive and administer grants that require recipients to have 501(c) 3 status. 

As fiscal sponsor, the IFC does not supervise actual production of projects but is legally responsible for funds received and must insure that funds are used according to the donors’ wishes and that reporting requirements are met. 

The IFC will: 1) collect funds for the Project donated through sponsorship program, 2) redistribute the funds as necessary, 3) keep a separate ledger for all funds accepted for the individual’s project, and 4) make records of such transactions available to those who might require it. The IFC maintains these records in the form of account status reports and other disclosures required by grant guidelines and/or federal law.

The IFC remains a separate entity and is not responsible for liabilities of Project. 

All artistic rights, creative control, and copyright must be retained by the applicant. Funders do not receive profit participation and any unused funds are returned to funders. 

The IFC retains a 7% percentage of all funds raised to cover administrative costs and to support the mission of the organization to continue providing programming.

The IFC may use the title and description of Project, the names and biographies of

Project personnel, and listings of grants the IFC has received on Project’s behalf for information, publication, and promotion purposes. Project and all its publicity and advertisements will contain proper credit to the IFC. Inclusion of the clause, “Made with the support of the Independent Filmmakers Coalition of Kansas City’s fiscal sponsorship program” or alternate clause to be mutually agreed upon with the IFC.

The program is open to independent narrative or documentary features or shorts, pilots, and web series at any stage of development as well as film-related programs.

• Applicants will submit a Fiscal Sponsorship Program Application through the IFC’s website. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
• Applicants can apply for 3 month, 6 month, or 9 month sponsorships.
• Applications are reviewed by the IFC’s Fiscal Sponsorship Committee to select recommended finalists to the IFC Board for final approval.
• The IFC will choose 1-2 projects per quarter, depending on the number of applicants. When one sponsorship ends, the IFC can grant a new sponsorship.
• Fiscal sponsorship applicants will be notified by the Board of Directors of their decision each cycle. Those NOT accepted may apply again or submit another project in the next cycle.

The IFC can provide feedback from judges upon request from applicants who were not selected for the Fiscal Sponsorship.

• THE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP IS OPEN TO NARRATIVE SHORTS & FEATURES, SHORT & FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES, PILOTS, WEB SERIES, FILM-RELATED PROGRAMMING (SUCH AS FESTIVALS, SCREENINGS, ETC.)
• PROJECT COULD BE IN ANY STAGE OF PRODUCTION (PRE-PRODUCTION, SHOOTING, OR POST-PRODUCTION) BUT A COMPLETED SCRIPT MUST BE PROVIDED.
• SPONSORSHIP ONLY LASTS FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME APPLIED FOR (3, 6, OR 9 MONTHS), BUT APPLICANTS CAN RE-APPLY FOR LATER STAGES OF PRODUCTION.
• CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS TO BE COMBINED WITH FISCAL SPONSORSHIP ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE.
• THE IFCKC WILL ONLY SPONSOR UP TO THE AMOUNT NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT.
• APPLICANT SHOULD BE A YEARLY MEMBER OF THE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS COALITION, OR HAVE BEEN A MONTHLY MEMBER FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.
• APPLICANT AND/OR PROJECT SHOULD HAVE STRONG CONNECTION TO KANSAS CITY. (FILMMAKER ORIGINALLY FROM KANSAS CITY AREA, CURRENTLY RESIDING IN KANSAS CITY AREA, FILMING IN KANSAS CITY AREA, ETC.)
• APPLICANT MUST SUPPLY THE SPONSOR WITH THE PROJECT’S DEDICATED BANK’S ACCOUNT NAME TYPE OF ACCOUNT, ROUTING NUMBER AND ACCOUNT NUMBER TO THE SPONSOR WITHIN 30 DAYS OF BEING APPROVED FOR THE SPONSOR’S FINANCIAL GRANT PROGRAM.
• APPLICANT WILL PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES (FREQUENCY DEPENDANT ON STAGE OF PRODUCTION) ON PROJECT’S PROGRESSION AND MUST COMMUNICATE CHANGES TO THE PROJECT THAT DIFFER FROM THE APPLICATION. IF MAJOR CHANGES HAVE OCCURED, THE IFCKC CAN REEVALUATE TERMS OF FISCAL SPONSORSHIP.
• THE IFCKC RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS TO USE THE FILMMAKER’S NAME AND ANY PHOTOS YOU ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE IN PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AND ONLINE. AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION PHOTO SHOULD BE PROVIDED.
• WE ASK THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE IFCKC PUBLICLY IN ANY PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS, AS WELL INCLUDE A GRAPHIC, PROVIDED BY THE IFCKC, IN YOUR END CREDITS TO RECOGNIZE USE OF IFC’S FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. 
• THE GOAL OF THE IFCKC’S FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS TO CHAMPION CREATIVE, INDEPENDENT FILM IN KANSAS CITY. THE PROJECT’S VIABILITY, FINANCIALLY AND ARTISTICALLY, AS WELL AS THE TEAM’S COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE AND OVERALL PROPOSAL PRESENTATION, WILL BE CONSIDERED BY OUR REVIEW COMMITTEE. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HELP FILMMAKERS GET THEIR FILM FUNDED, FINISHED, AND SEEN. THE PROJECT MUST ALIGN WITH THE IFCKC’S MISSION AND THE APPLICATION SHOULD REFLECT HOW THAT WILL HAPPEN.

1. 1. The IFCKC’s mission is to foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation in the local filmmaking community by providing networking events, educational programs, exhibition platforms, and mentorship opportunities for independent filmmakers.