Community Initiatives

Community Initiatives

1000 Broadway, Suite 480
Oakland, CA 94607
(415) 230-7700
and
777 South Alameda, 2nd Fl.
Los Angeles, CA, 29921
(213) 647-0115
Website: communityin.org

Contact:
Ruth Williams
President & CEO
ruth@communityin.org

Year organization became a 501(c)(3): 1996
Year of first fiscal sponsorship: 1996
Number of sponsored projects: 115

Fiscal sponsorship fee:
While nonprofit administration costs can swallow as much as 20%-40% of a nonprofit’s budget, fiscal sponsorship offers an affordable alternative. In support of comprehensive administrative services, https://communityin.org/services/, Community Initiatives charges 10% of gross revenues and, due to the complexity of the reporting requirements, 15% for government funds. Contact us to learn more about our fees.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Has an advisory group: must include a minimum of three advisors
  • Minimum budget: annual budget must be a minimum of $24,000
  • Other: Compelling nonprofit purpose that solves a problem or addresses an unmet need; realistic business/revenue model; strategies, activities or programs tied to nonprofit purpose and business/revenue model; expertise with subject‐matter, issue or problem; style‐fit: good listener, fair‐minded, willing to share resources.

Types of projects or services we sponsor:

  • Arts and culture
  • Children, youth and families
  • Disaster relief: emphasis on disaster preparedness
  • Economic development
  • Education
  • Environment/sustainable growth
  • Health/nutrition
  • Housing
  • Mental health
  • People or communities of color/minorities
  • Political advocacy/social justice
  • Social services
  • Transportation
  • Women
  • Youth development
  • Other: Seniors, technology, veterans, wildlife and pets.

Services we offer projects:

  • Auditing
  • Bookkeeping/accounting
  • Human resource management
  • Insurance
  • Legal services
  • Payroll
  • Receiving property and stock donations
  • Tax reporting
  • Other: Coordination of services; grants administration and reporting; government grants and contracts administration and billing; online donor platform; social media consulting; strategic planning

Based on Fiscal Sponsorship: 6 Ways to Do It Right: Our model(s) of fiscal sponsorship are:

  • Model A, Direct Project
  • Model B, Independent Contractor Project
  • Model C, Preapproved Grant Relationship

Organization description:

Community Initiatives believes that people starting or leading nonprofit projects, collaborations or networks that create social change or serve the public good should have the high quality and expert professional services they need to focus their time, energy and resources on what they are trying to achieve. Every day we provide the legal framework and quality professional support that allow nonprofit initiatives to flourish.