Department of Bioregion Fiscal Sponsorship Program
The Cascadia Department of Bioregion supports projects that strengthen our shared sense of place, protect what makes Cascadia unique, and help communities thrive in balance with the land and waters that sustain us. We sponsor initiatives that build Cascadian identity and culture, foster education, art, and storytelling, and improve the quality of life for the people and ecosystems of our bioregion. We especially support work that is rooted in place and aligned with bioregional and regenerative values and principles—projects that help communities organize across watersheds, celebrate local culture and ecology, and create meaningful pathways toward resilience and belonging. Whether it’s a community garden, a regional arts collective, a bioregional mapping project, or an educational program connecting people to their home ecosystems, we partner with groups who share our vision: a thriving, interconnected Cascadia built through cooperation, creativity, and care for the whole living system.
What is Fiscal Sponsorship?
Fiscal sponsorship is a legal and financial arrangement in which a registered nonprofit organization extends its tax-exempt status and administrative infrastructure to support aligned projects or initiatives that do not have their own 501(c)(3) designation. This partnership allows those projects to receive tax-deductible donations and grants, access insurance and compliance support, and operate under the oversight and accountability of the sponsoring nonprofit. In practice, fiscal sponsorship enables grassroots leaders, community groups, and emerging initiatives to focus on their mission-driven work—such as regeneration, education, or cultural development—while the fiscal sponsor manages essential backend functions like bookkeeping, reporting, and regulatory compliance. It is an efficient, trusted, and widely used model for incubating new projects, testing innovative ideas, and accelerating impact without the administrative burden of forming a separate nonprofit entity.
We offer two models of fiscal sponsorship to meet diverse needs, following established best practices in the field:
Model A (Comprehensive) – The project becomes an internal program of our organization, with the Department managing all finances, HR, and operations. Ideal for groups needing full administrative support, just starting out or planning to become their own 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the future.
Model C (Pre-Approved Grant Relationship) – The Department receives donations or grants designated for an external project and re-grants those funds to the project entity. Used by established organizations, international partners, or initiatives seeking a funding conduit.
501(c)3 Sponsorship Means:
Access to our insurance policy
Tax deductible donations
Grants
Internal resources
Library and non-profit tools
Access to our dedicated bank account or direct payouts.
End of Year Tax reporting
Protection from Personal Liability
What types of Fiscal Sponsorship does Department of Bioregion offer?
Applying for 501(c)3 Sponsorship
To apply for non-profit sponsorship under our 501(c)3 umbrella, please fill out our application form here. We will follow up with you within 3-10 business days.
Applications can take up to three months to approve, and must be approved by a vote of our board of directors. If you’re thinking about applying reach out and let us know, join us for a meeting and let us know about your work. Establishing contact, can greatly speed up the process.
Want to get sponsored or start a project?
contact fsp@deptofbioregion.org
What is the cost of joining our Non-Profit Collective?
The Department of Bioregion charges an administrative fee of 10% depending on your group, mission alignment, and need for long term project sponsorship. For short term grant sponsorship or direct payouts, we charge a flat 15%. Each project is evaluated on a case by case basis by our board of directors. These costs cover processing fee’s, insurance liability, and general operating expenses.
Our Organizing Philosophy
We believe the people living in a place are the best suited to take the lead on issues affecting that area. Through our work, we connect projects, organizations and groups together, and work to strengthen each by providing services such as outreach, website support, fundraising, legal support, and anything else we can do to empower their success.
We sponsor and support any work that builds greater understandings of bioregions, promote place appropriate technologies and policies, provide direct funding for community projects, and support the creation of centers to determine the carrying capacities and regenerative frameworks for each watershed and bioregion we live in.
