Fiscal 
Sponsorship

Application Process

SBEF uses a two-step application process to ensure alignment before investing significant time on either side.

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

All prospective fiscal sponsees must begin by submitting a brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The LOI should be no more than two pages and must address the following:

• Organization or project name, contact information, and lead applicant.

• A one-paragraph description of the program or project and how it aligns to the SBEF mission and strategic priorities.

• The specific need within SBUSD that this program addresses.

• Does the district support this program, and if so do you have evidence of district level (not just a school site) support? If you have not yet established that support, can you demonstrate alignment with the district’s goals? 

• The type of support being requested (Model A Fiscal Sponsorship, or Model C Fiscal Sponsorship).

• Estimated annual budget and funding sources (annual must be at least $30,000).

• The current stage of the program (start-up, developing, mature, or scaling).

SBEF staff will review all LOIs and notify applicants within 30 days whether they are invited to submit a full application. Submission of an LOI does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

LOIs should be submitted to: [INSERT EMAIL/PORTAL LINK]

Step 2: Full Application

NOTE: Only applicants who receive an invitation from SBEF staff after completing an LOI will be asked to complete this full application. 

The application is organized into five sections:

• Section 1: Applicant Information

• Section 2: Program Description and Need

• Section 3: Organizational Capacity

• Section 4: Goals, Evaluation, and Sustainability

• Section 5: Budget, Funding, and Fiscal Sponsorship Services Needed

Completed applications and all required attachments should be submitted to: [INSERT EMAIL/PORTAL LINK]

Questions about the application process may be directed to: [INSERT CONTACT NAME, EMAIL, PHONE]