Centering Equity and Supporting Innovation Through Fiscal Sponsorship

By Jasmine Hall Ratliff
 
At Build Missouri Health, fiscal sponsorship is more than an administrative function—it's a cornerstone of our commitment to fostering community-led innovations that promote health equity. By serving as a fiscal sponsor, we create the conditions for emerging organizations and coalitions to thrive, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to tackle Missouri's most pressing health challenges.
 

What is Fiscal Sponsorship?


Fiscal sponsorship is a collaborative relationship where an exempt organization, such as a 501(c)(3) public charity, helps a mission-aligned coalition or organization manage funds, comply with legal requirements, and gain traction. This article in Social Impact Commons details the most common models. At Build Missouri Health we currently provide Model C fiscal sponsorship, which allows us to:
 
  • Accept and regrant funds on behalf of our partners.
  • Serve as the grantee of record with funders.
  • Ensure compliance with funding requirements and regulations.

This approach enables us to amplify the impact of smaller organizations by offering them a stable foundation from which to launch and grow.
 


Why Fiscal Sponsorship Matters in Missouri


Fiscal sponsorship is gaining traction nationwide, but the need remains especially acute here in Missouri. With more than 20,000 registered nonprofits statewide, fewer than a handful specialize in fiscal sponsorship. While several local and regional organizations offer a version of fiscal sponsorship along with many other activities, their reach and capacity is understandably limited. This limited access often creates barriers for smaller, emerging organizations—especially those led by people of color or youth leaders—who lack the resources to navigate traditional funding systems.

Information taken from Social Impact Commons Fiscal Sponsorship Field Scan 2023:

Concentration of the 100 responding fiscal sponsorship organizations

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By stepping into this gap, Build Missouri Health is ensuring that innovative, community-driven ideas have the conditions to flourish. We see fiscal sponsorship as an opportunity to build a program that reflects our values and addresses the unique needs of organizations across Missouri. While we are in these early stages, we are laying the foundation for a thoughtful and impactful approach, with equity and innovation at its core.

 

Centering Equity in Fiscal Sponsorship

Build Missouri Health centers racial equity in everything we do, and our fiscal sponsorship work is no exception. We know that many organizations most in need of this support are led by people of color, and we are committed to a process that is clear, transparent, and accessible, ensuring that every organization we work with feels empowered.

As we move forward, we aim to:
 

  • Simplify application and onboarding processes to make them more inclusive.

  • Be flexible in finding ways to support innovative ideas, even when they challenge traditional norms.

  • Build strong partnerships that foster trust and empowerment.


We envision a program where organizations led by people of color feel not only supported but seen and celebrated for the vital work they do.


Supporting Emerging Leaders and Youth-Driven Innovation

Social change and philanthropy are increasingly led by young leaders, and we believe they will play a pivotal role in shaping Missouri’s future. We see the transformative potential of their vision and energy, and we’re considering some key objectives to enable us to better collaborate with these emerging leaders:
 

  • Establishing mentorship opportunities to guide young leaders through challenges.

  • Providing strategic planning and project management support tailored to their unique needs.

  • Creating open lines of communication to ensure their perspectives and lived experiences are valued and integrated into solutions.



Scaling for Impact

Finally, as a startup nonprofit, Build Missouri Health is just beginning its journey into fiscal sponsorship, but we are laying the groundwork for a program that can grow to meet the needs of Missouri’s diverse communities. Over the next several months, we are continuing to:
 

  • Expand our operational capacity to take on more partners over time.

  • Build a sustainable fundraising model to support a wide range of organizations.

  • Engage deeply with communities all across the state to better understand and respond to their needs.


We see this as a long-term investment in the health and equity of our state, one that will evolve as we learn, grow, and partner with organizations across Missouri. At Build Missouri Health, fiscal sponsorship is one of many tools we use to advance health equity across the state. By nurturing organizations and amplifying their innovations, we’re fostering a healthier, more equitable Missouri. Together, we can turn bold ideas into lasting solutions, creating a brighter future for every community.