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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers about how Journalism Funding Partners operates, how fiscal sponsorship works and more..

Journalism Funding Partners (JFP) is a nonprofit organization that provides fiscal sponsorship to local newsrooms across the United States of America. JFP works under a Model C sponsorship
A Model C sponsorship is essentially a relationship between the grantor-grantee and the sponsor of the project. JFP works under a Model C Sponsorship and charges an administrative fee that covers any costs such as donor management, reporting, accounting, administering the fund, ensuring legal guidance, and assuring news organizations maintain editorial independence.
JFP works with local, unbiased newsrooms across the country. Newsrooms range from traditional print/digital newsrooms, broadcast, audio and more. JFP does not provide sponsorship to newsrooms outside of the USA.
JFP can provide sponsorship to newsrooms across all 50 states.
Outside of fiscal sponsorship, JFP runs the Chips Quinn Reporter Fellowship and is involved with the California Civic Media Program.

Fiscal sponsorship is a formal arrangement in which an established nonprofit lends its tax-exempt status and administrative infrastructure to a project, newsroom or initiative that hasn't secured its own 501(c)(3) status, allowing that project to receive tax-deductible donations and grants legally while the sponsor handles compliance, financial oversight and fund administration on its behalf.
Starting your own nonprofit means filing for 501(c)(3) status directly with the IRS, a process that takes months and comes with full independence but full administrative responsibility, including your own board, filings and compliance. Fiscal sponsorship lets your project operate under an existing nonprofit's tax-exempt status, so you can accept tax-deductible donations right away while the sponsor handles the accounting and compliance in exchange for a fee. You gain speed and lower overhead, but give up some independence and oversight of the funds.
JFP enacts a 7% fiscal sponsorship fee to all newsrooms it sponsors. Newsrooms that are gifted more than $1m through a donation or a grant receive a 5% fiscal sponsorship fee.
JFP is willing to act as fiscal sponsor to newsrooms that seek grants relating to JFP’s mission. In addition to fiscally sponsoring grants, JFP also fiscally sponsors community giving campaigns, allowing members of the community to make tax-deductible donations.
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JFP requests that all sponsored newsrooms provide updates and reports on how gifted money was spent. This can be annually, or customizable depending on what has been agreed upon between the newsroom and funder.
Yes. Donations to a JFP sponsored newsroom are tax-deductible.
JFP is able to receive grants from private foundations, DAFs and corporate giving programs.
JFP provides a gift receipt or acknowledgment letter to every donor no matter how small the gift.

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