Project Criteria

The Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC) only provides fiscal sponsorship to charitable projects that will improve the quality of life in Colorado.
Projects must meet the same eligibility criteria for being a nonprofit organization. The project's activities must be charitable in nature, there must be a public purpose, and any profits must be used to further the mission of the project.

CNDC will generally not accept projects that already have applied for or received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. Nor will CNDC, in most cases, accept projects that already have submitted incorporation paperwork with the State of Colorado. There are instances where it does make sense for an existing 501(c)(3) to obtain a fiscal sponsor.  For example, a fiscal sponsor may be needed to manage a susbstantial government contract or for multiple nonprofit organizations to collaborate on a grant.


If your charitable project already has completed these steps but still wants to apply for fiscal sponsorship, please contact Jill Barwig, Director of Programs, at 720-855-0501. You may also want to consider contracting with CNDC for accounting services through the Nonprofit Support Services program.

CNDC does not consider for sponsorship projects of a religious nature, profit-making ventures, scholarship programs, or political, legislative or litigation-oriented projects. Faith-based charitable groups may apply, but the program cannot espouse religious beliefs, require adherence to particular religious beliefs by staff or service recipients, or seek converts to a particular faith.

CNDC Evaluates Prospective Projects on Six Key Criteria

Genuine charitable intent

• Is the group motivated by the desire to improve
  the quality of life in its community?

Able, committed leadership

• Have the group leaders demonstrated a commitment
  to their community?

• Do the leaders have the skills and ability to manage
  and lead a charitable project?


• Is there a steering committee or advisory board
  involved in the project?

Evidence of real community need

• Is there evidence of need for the proposed project?

• Is it likely that the proposed project will provide
  tangible benefits to the community?

• Is there evidence of community support for the
  project beyond the project leaders?

 

A clear set of project objectives

• Can the group leaders describe their plan of action
  and proposed activities?

• Does that plan address the need identified by the
  group leaders?

• Is the project plan based on research and/or proven
  effective practices?

• Can the group leaders articulate the expected short-
  term and long-term outcomes from the proposed
  activities?

 

Realistic budget projects

• Has the group developed a realistic revenue and
  expense budget?

 

Apparent ability to attract charitable contributions

• Do group leaders have the ability to identify,
  approach, and cultivate prospective funders?

• Can the group leaders identify individuals,
  foundations or businesses willing to contribute
  financially to the project?