Fiscal Sponsorship Guidelines
June 23, 2005

A fiscal sponsorship through the Jon Sims Center for the Performing Art means,(JSC) will provide individual artists and groups with a non-profit tax status that promotes fundraising through individual donations, foundations and corporate sponsorships. It also provides artists with fiscal accounting regarding their business transactions. As a perk we offer discounted rehearsal space and help researching and writing grants. JSC will receive 10% of all grants, donations and corporate sponsorship monies.

JSC's mission is to provide for the artistic, educational, and social needs of our neighborhoods and communities through the performing arts - paying special attention to the development of artistry and cultural identity with-in and reaching-out from the lesbian/gay community. JSC's membership is comprised of nearly 200 lesbian/gay, performing artists with extended fiscal agent services to over 50 artists, and over 300 hundred performing arts tenants, through the rental of JSC's rehearsal facility. We believe the arts provide a visible blueprint of our culture, that transcribe one generation to the next, and instill pride and identity for lesbians and gay men to be shared and admired by all, while breaking-down intolerance in the community at large.

In considering a potential fiscal sponsorship relationship the JSC board of directors of must answer the following questions:

1.) Does the purpose of the artist(s) further our purpose and mission to the community?
2.) Would our relationship with the project fit within the acceptable perimeters for "fiscal sponsorship" and not endanger our own 501 c (3) status or open us up to unexpected liability?
3.) Is the proposed relationship one that the JSC feels it can realistically and legally provide?
4.) Are we appropriately set up to handle the administrative responsibility of the proposed project, including contracts, appropriate applications, plan for dissolution of the relationship when the time comes?

If all answers to the above are "yes" then the board may authorize the JSC director to contract with the proposed project or artist(s).