The Orchard Project OPportunity Fund supports artists and producers as their work moves into production. Because projects vary widely in scale, readiness, and support needs, the Fund offers two collaboration models.
Both options provide fee-free fiscal sponsorship through The Orchard Project. The difference is how integrated OP becomes in the producing and operational life of the project.
This page is intended to help you understand the options in plain language. Final structures are always confirmed together through conversation
Two Ways to Collaborate with The OPportunity Fund
1. Supported by the OPportunity Fund
(Fiscal Sponsorship / “Model C”)
This option is best for projects that are artist- or producer-led and primarily seeking a nonprofit home to receive contributed funds.
Under this model:
The Orchard Project serves as fee-free fiscal sponsor
Donations are received by OP and re-granted to support your project
You retain primary producing control
Your project remains legally and operationally independent
You manage your own vendors, payroll, insurance, and day-to-day operations
OP provides compliance, oversight of contributed funds, and reporting support
Good fit if you:
Have an existing producing structure or team
Are raising contributed funds for a specific production or festival run
Want nonprofit eligibility without deep operational integration
Are producing in environments like Edinburgh Fringe, U.S. festivals, or Off-Broadway
This model aligns with what is commonly referred to as a pre-approved grant relationship, where the sponsor ensures charitable compliance while the project operates independently
2. Produced in Association with the OPportunity Fund
(Integrated Producing Partnership / “Model A”)
This option is designed for projects seeking deeper producing partnership and shared infrastructure.
Under this model:
Your project operates as a program of The Orchard Project for the duration of the relationship
OP provides fee-free fiscal sponsorship and hands-on producing support
OP may handle:
Budgeting and cashflow planning
Payroll and contractor payments
Contracting and compliance
Financial management and reporting
Production management and administrative coordination
Programmatic and artistic decisions remain collaborative and artist-centered
OP assumes legal, compliance, and fiduciary responsibility for the project
Important note on costs:
While OP does not charge an administrative fee on donations in either model, projects in this model may need to allocate part of their production budget to cover direct operational costs (for example: payroll processing, production management time, insurance, or specialized administrative support). These costs are project-specific and discussed transparently in advance.
Good fit if you:
Want integrated producing and operational support
Are scaling into a more complex production or tour
Prefer shared infrastructure rather than building systems independently
Would benefit from OP acting as an active producing partner
This model aligns with what is commonly called comprehensive fiscal sponsorship, where the project lives inside the nonprofit’s legal and administrative structure
Side by Side Comparison
Supported by OPportunity Fund
Fee-free fiscal sponsorship
Independent producing structure
OP oversees contributed funds only
Project manages operations and payroll
Lighter-touch relationship
Produced in Association with OPportunity Fund
Fee-free fiscal sponsorship
Integrated producing partnership
OP manages compliance, payroll, and finances
Shared infrastructure and risk
Some project budgets include direct operational costs
Which Model Should I Choose?
You don’t need to have this fully figured out when you apply.
Many projects start with one model in mind and refine the structure through conversation. On the application, you’ll be able to select:
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Supported by the OPportunity Fund
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Produced in Association with the OPportunity Fund
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Not sure yet
Our goal is to match each project with the level of support that will most meaningfully help it move forward.
Still Have Questions?
If you’re unsure which model fits your project — or if your project sits somewhere in between — we encourage you to apply and note your questions in the application.
We’re happy to talk through options as part of the review process.
The OPportunity Fund collaboration models are informed by nationally recognized fiscal sponsorship best practices and adapted to meet the real needs of artists producing bold new work today