Our Fiscal Receiver Services
Arts Wisconsin acts as fiscal receiver for Wisconsin-based arts projects, providing tax-exempt benefits for individual donations, grants and contributions.
We all know the arts need funding to survive. Fortunately there are philanthropic individuals, charitable foundations, and government institutions who recognize this need and provide support.
The Need: Most independent artists, however, including countless small or new arts companies, lack the all important 501(c)(3) tax status that makes those donations legal and desirable. That's where fiscal receivership comes in.
In a Nutshell: Fiscal receivership is a financial and legal system by which a legally recognized 501(c)(3) public charity (such as Arts Wisconsin) provides limited financial and legal oversight for a project initiated independently by an artist. That "project" might be a one-time project or an independent artist or an arts organization that does not have its own 501(c)(3) status. Once sponsored in this way, the project is eligible to solicit and receive grants and tax-deductible contributions that are normally available only to 501(c)(3) organizations.
The Catch: Anytime you're dealing with the IRS (which regulates these issues), you can bet there are going to be some complicated legal issues involved. Many well-intentioned, legitimate organizations across the country provide fiscal sponsorship programs for artists. Very few of them are doing it legally, though, and most don't even realize the danger in which they're putting themselves and their sponsored projects. If the IRS ever decides to crack down, they could lose their 501(c)(3) status, and their sponsored projects could be forced to return any money raised under the arrangement.
The Solution: Fortunately, Arts Wisconsin is here to help. Our fiscal receivership program is legal, efficient, and affordable. Our program is open and accessible to artists and arts organizations nationwide and in every discipline. We won't judge your work's artistic quality or merit; that's for others to decide. Our job is to give you the tools you need to raise the money to make it happen.
How it works: wants to help you do your work! Our fiscal receivership program offers many benefits - here are some of the details:
- Sliding scale administrative fee up to 10% of donation
- Online donations by credit card with a 1% fee for credit card processing
- Clear financial records available for project administrators as needed
- Donors can make automatic recurring monthly donations
- We can accept and process non-cash donations of equipment and materials
Current fiscal receiver projects
- Bel Son Productions, Appleton [Donate Here]
- The Bricks Theatre, Madison [Donate Here]
- Fresco Opera Theatre, Madison [Donate Here]
- Madison Area Open Art Studios
- Madison Center for Creative and Cultural Arts
- Music Theatre of Madison [Donate Here]
- Film Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Presenters Network
- Wisconsin Story Project, Madison [Donate Here]
Contact Anne Katz (akatz@artswisconsin.org) for more information!