Fiscal Sponsorship Services at PIE
What we do
Providing a Strategic Home for Mission-Driven Projects
Is your organization in a state of transition? Whether you are a budding startup looking to hit the ground running or an established nonprofit preparing to close your doors while ensuring your programs live on, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Org (PIE) provides the legal, financial, and strategic framework you need.
Why Partner with PIE for Fiscal Sponsorship?
At PIE, we believe that administrative hurdles shouldn’t stand in the way of social impact. Our fiscal sponsorship program is designed for:
- Small Startups: New initiatives that need immediate 501(c)(3) status to apply for grants and accept tax-deductible donations.
- Closing Organizations: Established nonprofits that are “sunsetting” but want their specific programs or remaining funds to be managed by a trusted fiduciary.
- Mission-Based Collaboratives: Groups of organizations working together on a single project that requires a neutral “backbone” entity.
The PIE Difference: Beyond Just a “Bank Account”
Most fiscal sponsors provide basic accounting. As our name suggests, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation are at the core of everything we do. When you join PIE, you gain a partner invested in your organizational health:
- Planning: We help you align your project’s goals with actionable roadmaps.
- Implementation: We provide the “back-office” infrastructure (payroll, HR, and compliance) so you can focus on the work.
- Evaluation: We offer data-driven insights to help you measure your impact and prove your value to donors.
Our Rates & Service Model
We are committed to transparency and keeping overhead low so that more money goes toward your mission.
Standard Admin Fee:
Our typical fiscal sponsorship fee ranges from 7% to 10% of gross revenue, depending on the complexity and size of the project.
Closing/Transitioning Orgs:
For organizations in the process of closing, we offer customized flat-fee [click to explanation page] or percentage-based arrangements to manage the “spend-down” of remaining assets and ensure programmatic continuity.
What’s Included:
Tax-exempt status, gift acknowledgement, financial reporting, insurance coverage, and access to our suite of capacity-building workshops.
FLAT FEE EXPLANATION:
1. When to Use a Percentage-Based Fee
A percentage (typically 7–12%) is best when the closing organization still has active, unpredictable revenue or long-tail grants that are being “spent down” over an extended period.
- Best for: Organizations with ongoing government contracts or multi-year private grants that require intensive reporting.
- The Logic: As the fund balance decreases, the fee decreases. This keeps PIE’s incentives aligned with yours: we manage the funds efficiently until they are gone.
- Pros: Easy to budget; scales with the size of the remaining mission.
- Cons: If the remaining balance is very high but the work is low, a percentage might overcharge the mission.
2. When to Use a Flat-Fee (Retainer) Model
A flat fee (e.g., $1,000–$5,000/month) is often better for “Legacy Projects” where the revenue has stopped, but the administrative “wind-down” work is heavy.
- Best for: Organizations that have stopped fundraising but need PIE to manage physical asset liquidation, final audits, or HR terminations.
- The Logic: You are paying for capacity and expertise. Whether you have $50,000 or $500,000 left, the labor of filing final tax returns and closing out payroll remains the same.
- Pros: Predictable costs for the closing board; ensures PIE’s administrative costs are covered even if the fund balance is low.
- Cons: Can feel expensive if the “spend-down” takes longer than anticipated.
The PIE Evaluation Matrix
Before we agree on a fee, we perform a “Strategic Audit” based on these three factors:
| Factor | Low Complexity (Lower Fee) | High Complexity (Higher Fee) |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | All staff already transitioned out. | PIE must manage final layoffs/COBRA. |
| Assets | Cash only. | Real estate, equipment, or IP to sell. |
| Reporting | General donations only. | Restricted federal or state grants. |
| Timeline | Wind-down in < 6 months. | Multi-year “Legacy” tail. |
How PIE Calculates Your Quote
Our entrepreneurial approach means we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. When a closing org approaches pieorg.org, we follow this implementation path:
- Liability Assessment: We identify any “hidden” administrative tails (unpaid vendors, storage fees, or records retention).
- The “Legacy” Goal: Do you want the money to just disappear into a sunset, or do you want PIE to “Plan” a final impact report or a final round of scholarship grants?
- The Hybrid Option: For many closing orgs, we suggest a Hybrid Model: A percentage-based fee for the first 6 months (while funds are high), transitioning to a small monthly flat fee for the final “tail” of record storage and tax compliance.
Why PIE is the Best “Exit Partner”
Closing a nonprofit is emotionally and legally taxing for a Board of Directors. By transferring your remaining assets to PIE, your Board can officially dissolve their legal liability, knowing that Planning, Implementation and Evaluation experts are handling the final mile.
Born from an Entrepreneurial Spirit
PIE was not built in a boardroom; it was developed with a scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit to meet a glaring gap in the social sector. Our founders realized that many mission-driven leaders were “drowning in the doing”—overwhelmed by the administrative weight of running a corporation rather than solving the problems they cared about.
We built PIE to be the solution we wished existed: a flexible, responsive, and data-informed partner that meets organizations exactly where they are. We bring that same entrepreneurial energy to our sponsees, helping you pivot, scale, or transition with agility.
Is PIE the Right Fit for You?
We seek partners whose missions align with our commitment to Excellence, Integrity, and Equity. If you are looking for more than just a fiscal agent—if you want a strategic partner to help you plan, implement, and evaluate your legacy—we want to hear from you.
Ready to start the conversation? Contact our Executive Team at admin@pieorg.org
The PIE Partnership Guide
A Strategic Roadmap for Fiscal Sponsorship & Mission Success
Welcome to the Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Org (PIE). We don’t just host projects; we incubate impact. This guide outlines how our partnership works, what you can expect from us, and how we help you navigate the journey from idea to implementation.
1. The PIE Philosophy: Entrepreneurial Roots
PIE was born out of a necessity to bridge the gap between “having a vision” and “having an infrastructure.” We operate with an entrepreneurial spirit, meaning we are agile, solution-oriented, and focused on efficiency.
When you partner with us, you aren’t just joining a nonprofit; you are joining a sophisticated ecosystem designed to strip away administrative friction so you can focus on your “North Star.”
2. Our Three Pillars of Support
Unlike traditional fiscal sponsors, our support is categorized by our namesake framework:
P – Planning: We provide initial consultation to ensure your project’s theory of change is sound and your budget is sustainable.
I – Implementation: We take over the heavy lifting of back-office operations, including:
Financial Management: Bookkeeping, tax receipts, and grant tracking.
Compliance: 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and annual audits.
HR Support: Payroll processing and independent contractor management.
E – Evaluation: We help you define success. Through data collection and impact reporting, we ensure you can prove your results to donors and stakeholders.
3. Who We Serve
We specialize in two distinct organizational life stages:
- The Launch (Emerging Orgs): You have a project but no legal entity. We provide the “landing pad” so you can accept funds immediately.
- The Legacy (Closing Orgs): Your organization is sunsetting, but your mission isn’t finished. We act as a successor, managing remaining assets and ensuring your programs conclude or transition with dignity.
4. Financials & Fees
Our fee structure is reinvested directly into the tools and talent that protect your project.
| Service Tier | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Sponsorship | 7–10% of Revenue | Active grassroots projects and startups. |
| Grant-Heavy Projects | 12% of Revenue | Projects requiring complex federal/state reporting. |
| Succession/Closing | Custom / Flat Fee | Organizations transferring assets for final wind-down. |
5. The Onboarding Process
Getting started with PIE is a streamlined, four-step process:
- Inquiry & Alignment: Submit your mission statement and high-level budget.
- Review: Our board evaluates the project for mission alignment and risk.
- Agreement: We sign a Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement (FSA) defining our roles.
- Activation: We set up your restricted fund, and you begin fundraising under the PIE umbrella.
6. Shared Values
We look for partners who embody:
- Transparency: Open communication regarding finances and goals.
- Accountability: A commitment to the “Evaluation” phase of our framework.
- Agility: The willingness to adapt as community needs change.
Ready to Bake Your Mission into Reality?
The world doesn’t need more paperwork; it needs more progress. Let us handle the “how” so you can focus on the “why.”
- Contact: admin@pieorg.org
- Visit: pieorg.org/partnership
Contact us today to see how we can help you!