Your plan must show at least $15,000 in contributed income through NYFA. That amount can be confirmed, pending, projected, or a combination. You do not need to have it before applying, but you do need a strong plan to get it. NYFA does not provide funding. Your organization is responsible for identifying funders, applying, cultivating donors, and generating earned revenue.
Only contributed income counts toward the $15,000 requirement. A quick way to tell the difference: ask whether the person or funder receives something in return. If they give money to support your work and get nothing back, it is contributed income. If they get something in exchange, such as a ticket, class, product, or service, it is earned income.
Contributed income (flows through NYFA): grants that require 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor, tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate contributions, employee matching gifts, stock donations, and Seed&Spark crowdfunding donations.
Earned income (also flows through NYFA for Emerging Organizations): ticket sales, fees, merchandise, artwork or publication sales, licensing, royalties, commissions, and online sales. It does not count toward the $15,000.
Neither, and not counted toward $15,000 requirement: personal funds, in-kind donations, loans, credit card debt, and money from investors.
Counting earned income, such as tickets or class fees, toward the $15,000 minimum requirement.
Listing grants that pay artists directly. Some awards go straight to the artist and do not pass through a fiscal sponsor.
Listing grants that do not accept fiscally sponsored applicants. Check each funder's guidelines.
Using vague funder names, such as "Foundation Grants" or "Arts Grants."
Leaving out NYFA's administrative fee, or submitting budgets where income and expenses do not match.
Listing artists, staff, or collaborators as unpaid volunteers. NYFA values fair pay for artists.
AI can be a great tool for finding funders. It can also suggest grants that have closed, changed, or don’t accept fiscally sponsored projects. Before adding a grant to your application, take a moment to check the funder’s website for:
Current deadlines
Eligibility, including whether they accept fiscally sponsored projects
Whether the program still exists
The panel reviews each grant you list, so a quick check now helps your application.
There is no wrong answer. A first-time fundraiser can be approved with a realistic plan and support.
The next question asks about your fundraising history, including grants, crowdfunding, and donations.
Tell us about fundraising you have done in the past 5 years. This can include grant applications, crowdfunding campaigns, and donations you asked for from individuals or businesses. For each one, share the outcome: awarded, declined, amount raised, or still pending.
Why we ask
We want to understand your experience raising money, not just your successes. An application that was declined or a campaign that fell short still shows you know how to ask for support.
How this differs from the question: "What fundraising have you already done for your organization"
This question covers all of your fundraising history. “What fundraising have you already done for your organization?” covers only the organization you wish to be sponsored.
Fiscal sponsorship only helps with income that requires 501(c)(3) status, such as certain grants and tax-deductible donations. Select every way you plan to use it. If none of your funding needs that status, you may not need a fiscal sponsor.
Residencies, fellowships, and awards: most go directly to artists and do not need a fiscal sponsor.
In-kind: donated goods and services do not flow through NYFA as income. NYFA can acknowledge donated goods, such as equipment. Donated services and free use of space are not tax-deductible and cannot be acknowledged.
You will see this question only if you plan to run a crowdfunding campaign.
Early support shows momentum. Include grants you have applied for (successful or not), donations you have received, crowdfunding campaigns, and other fundraising completed to date.
This can be contributions that are confirmed (received or committed in writing) or pending (requested and awaiting a decision). You do not need to have received money yet. If you have not started, write "Not yet started" and explain your plan.
Example: "We applied to the ABC Arts Council in March 2026 for $10,000 (pending). We raised $4,500 from 40 donors at our 2025 benefit concert and $2,000 from a spring online appeal. We are preparing two foundation applications for fall 2026."
This is the core of your plan. Reviewers check that each grant and timeline is real, that it fits your organization, and that it requires a fiscal sponsor.
If you have not yet identified specific grants, describe your research plan and timeline for identifying funders. Applications without specific grants identified are unlikely to be approved.
For each grant include: funder name and grant program name, typical award amount, application deadline (if known), and whether you have applied to this funder before and the outcome.
All funds you raise through NYFA support your organization's activities as a whole.
Example: "XYZ Cultural Fund. Up to $25,000. Deadline in October. First time applying."
Many funders limit who can apply by location or discipline, and some do not accept fiscally sponsored applicants. Read each funder's guidelines before listing it.
NYFA staff verify every grant you list. A grant you are not eligible for can affect your application.
Individual donors are often the first and most reliable source of funds. Describe personal outreach, events, online campaigns, corporate sponsorships, matching gifts, or crowdfunding. If you rely on grants alone, explain why.
Strong answers include goals based on real numbers, such as past gifts and list sizes.
This is the total of everything your organization will spend this fiscal year. Your total income must equal this number, and both should match the totals on your income and expense budgets.
Fiscally sponsored organizations must be nonprofit in nature and serve a public benefit. Equity investors and revenue-sharing arrangements are not allowed while you are sponsored.
If you expect to bring in investors later, you would need to end your fiscal sponsorship with NYFA before accepting investor money.
Your income and expense budgets are where the panel checks that your plan adds up. Read these notes before you upload.
Both budgets are required. If your income budget or expense budget is missing, your application is incomplete and will not be eligible for review.
Cover three fiscal years in total, with a separate section or tab for each year.
Why they must match: your expense budget shows what your organization costs to run. Your income budget shows how you will pay for it. If income is lower than expenses, the plan does not work. If it is higher, it is unclear what the extra money is for. Unbalanced budgets will not be reviewed.
Also include liability insurance, which all sponsored organizations must carry, and a contingency line of 5 to 10% of your budget. List in-kind support on both budgets at the same value.
Do your own research: AI tools can help you find grants, but confirm each funder's eligibility yourself by reading its current guidelines. NYFA staff verify every grant you list.
One line per income source. Name the funder and its grant program, or a specific donor group such as "Individual donors, spring house concerts." Avoid general labels such as "foundation grants."
Each line needs a type of income, an amount, a status, and dates that match your timeline. Confirmed means received or committed in writing. Pending means requested and awaiting a decision. Projected means planned but not yet requested.
Because Emerging Organizations process earned income through NYFA, include earned income lines too, such as ticket sales, class fees, and merchandise. Contributed income should total at least $15,000.
Types of income: Government Grant, Foundation Grant, Corporate Grant, Individual Donation, Corporate Sponsorship, Crowdfunding (Seed&Spark), Earned Income, In-Kind, and Personal Funds.
In-kind support: list each donated item or service as its own line, with the type In-Kind and the value you would otherwise have paid.
Helpful resources: https://www.nyfa.org/building-a-project-budget-159438258223 , https://www.nyfa.org/blog/income-budgets-for-films/ , https://learning.candid.org/training/introduction-to-project-budgets/
One line per expense, with a description, category, amount, and the calculation behind it. Reviewers look for specific costs with the math shown, fair pay for artists, and the required lines.
Required lines: NYFA's administrative fee, liability insurance as its own line with an estimated cost, and a contingency of 5 to 10%. For every in-kind item on your income budget, add a matching line here at the same amount, with the category In-Kind.
Types of expenses: Personnel (staff, artists, performers, contractors), Materials and Supplies, Equipment, Travel and Transportation, Venue Rental, Marketing and Promotion, Documentation, Insurance, Legal and Accounting, Administrative Costs, and In-Kind.
Helpful resources: https://www.nyfa.org/building-a-project-budget-159438258223 , https://www.nyfa.org/blog/income-budgets-for-films/ , https://learning.candid.org/training/introduction-to-project-budgets/