Springboard’s Incubator is a fiscal sponsorship program that provides sponsorship for arts organizations and individual artist projects that do not want (or are not ready) to become tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. In other words, we make it possible for groups to receive tax-deductible grants and donations as your work grows.
Incubator is designed for arts groups and individual artist projects that have a nonprofit purpose and/or are looking at becoming their own tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Sponsored projects and organizations must be artist-led, fit with the mission of Springboard for the Arts, and be based in or producing work in Minnesota.
While it's free to apply to the Incubator program, admitted projects and organizations are charged an annual fee along a sliding scale of $60.00 - $120.00. We ask folks to pay what they feel they’re able within this window. We also charge a 7% administrative fee on all funds we need to handle as your fiscal sponsor, like grants or donations.
A project or organization is nonprofit when the ownership of the work takes a back seat to the mission. Also, nonprofit missions always advance some element of the public good or build solidarity within a community.
You'll need to submit a budget with your application. Click here for some tips on creating a good budget, a short video, and a downloadable sample budget.
The most common questions about the program, all in one place.
Are you interested in even MORE detail? You can review our program manual in its entirety.
Springboard Staff
Would you like to support one of Springboard's fiscally sponsored projects? Check out the Incubator Directory!
Info Sessions
We hold monthly info/Q&A sessions for Incubator on the fourth Wednesday of every month at noon. For the foreseeable future, we'll be holding this meeting via Zoom. Let us know if you'd like to attend and we’ll send you info on how to connect. Members and non-members alike are welcome.
Are you a nonprofit running a fiscal sponsorship of your own, or are looking to start? We've put together a handy how-to in partnership with our friends at Propel Nonprofit.