Under the umbrella of OP Forward, our reimagined program is geared specifically toward our alumni and the projects that are important to them.
Fiscal sponsorship is available only to past artists of The Orchard Project who are in good standing.
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 OPportunity Partnerships
1. Supported by OPportunity Partnerships
(Fiscal Sponsorship / “Model C”)
Are you a lead artist for a project that already has a budget and timeline and could use a familiar and welcoming space to house current and future financial contributions? Our fee-free “Model C” fiscal sponsorship program might be right for you.
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 OPportunity Partnerships
(Integrated Producing Partnership / “Model A”)
Model A may emerge through conversation with OP staff when a project would benefit from a 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 Partnerships
-
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 Partnerships
-
Fee-free fiscal sponsorship
-
Integrated producing partnership
-
OP manages compliance, payroll, and finances
-
Shared infrastructure and risk
-
Some project budgets include direct operational costs
How Is the Model Determined?
You don’t select a model when you apply. Tell us about your project and what support would help. If a closer producing partnership might be a good fit, OP staff will explore Model A with you in conversation.
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 have questions about what kind of support might fit your project, please include them in your application.
We’re happy to talk through options as part of the review process.
OPportunity Partnerships 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