Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement

HelpLink Fiscal Sponsorship and Fundraising Agreement

Last Modified October 2026

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms" or "Agreement") govern the relationship between HelpLink ("Sponsor"), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and any individual or entity ("Sponsored Program" or "Program") that applies for and participates in a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with HelpLink.

By submitting an application through the HelpLink platform, the Sponsored Program agrees to these Terms. Acceptance of these Terms forms a binding agreement between the Sponsor and the Program.

1. Purpose and Structure of Sponsorship

HelpLink provides fiscal sponsorship to programs that align with its charitable mission. Through this arrangement, HelpLink receives and manages charitable contributions on behalf of the Program and may disburse funds for approved charitable activities.

HelpLink operates under a pre-approved grant relationship model of fiscal sponsorship. Under this model, HelpLink retains full legal and fiduciary control of all contributed funds. HelpLink applies those funds in two ways: by paying directly for needs posted on the HelpLink platform, and, where HelpLink has approved a Fund to do so, by paying the Sponsored Program as a reimbursement of charitable expenses or as payment for charitable services. In each case, funds are used only for charitable purposes aligned with HelpLink's mission. Sponsored Programs are not legal projects or affiliates of HelpLink and remain separately operated entities.

This Agreement also governs any fundraising or promotional activities conducted by the Sponsored Program or its business partners in which proceeds or sales percentages are represented as benefiting HelpLink or the Sponsored Program's Fund. Sponsored Program acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement, together with any campaign-specific information submitted through the HelpLink platform, governs all such fundraising and promotional activities and constitutes the written agreement between HelpLink and any participating Commercial Co-Venturer that is required by applicable state charitable solicitation laws.

2. Program Eligibility and Application

Programs must:

(a) Operate exclusively for charitable purposes aligned with HelpLink's mission.

(b) Submit a complete application through HelpLink's online platform.

(d) Receive HelpLink's approval before a Fund opens. HelpLink reviews every Fund before it opens, including its Giving Rules and any payouts requested under Section 4.1(e), and may approve, limit, or decline any Fund at its sole discretion.

3. Donations and Tax-Deductibility

All donations received on behalf of a Sponsored Program are contributions to HelpLink and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors will receive receipts from HelpLink. HelpLink retains legal and fiscal control over all contributed funds.

As HelpLink's Donor Agreement provides, a donation designated to a Program Fund is a restricted contribution: HelpLink uses it solely to support the approved charitable purposes of that Fund.

4. Program Funds and Disbursement

HelpLink offers two types of Program Funds under this Agreement: Support Funds and Matching Funds. Collective Funds are governed by HelpLink's Donor Agreement.

4.1. Support Funds

Support Funds help the people a Sponsored Program serves. Every Support Fund pays for needs posted on the HelpLink platform. A Support Fund may also be approved to make payouts to the Sponsored Program under Section 4.1(e). A Support Fund that is not approved for payouts makes no payments to the Sponsored Program; its funds reach people only through posted needs.

(a) Giving Rules. Each Support Fund has Giving Rules, set by the Sponsored Program and approved by HelpLink. They describe whom the Fund may help: the Sponsored Program's own people, its affiliated and partner organizations, or the public. They may also set preferences such as category of need, reason for need, distance, and a limit per recipient. HelpLink applies the Fund to posted needs in accordance with its Giving Rules.

Giving Rules describe a class of people, not specific individuals. They may not name, list, or otherwise identify particular individuals or households, and the class must be open-ended: it includes people who join the class after the Fund opens, such as future employees, members, or residents, and is not limited to a fixed group of people known when the Fund opens.

(b) How Money Leaves the Fund. The Giving Rules also set how money leaves the Fund automatically:

(i) As matching needs appear. HelpLink applies the Fund to eligible posted needs as they are published, one need at a time.

(ii) On a schedule. HelpLink disburses a flat amount, or a percentage of the Fund's available balance, to eligible posted needs at a set frequency.

The Sponsored Program may also ask HelpLink to apply the Fund to a specific posted need at any time, subject to HelpLink's review and approval.

(c) Reserve Balance. The Sponsored Program may set a Reserve Balance: a percentage of the Fund's available balance, or a flat dollar amount, that HelpLink will not release automatically under Section 4.1(b). A Reserve Balance of 100% means nothing is released automatically. The Reserve Balance limits automatic release only, and does not apply to disbursements the Sponsored Program requests and HelpLink approves individually. It does not change the Fund's charitable purpose or HelpLink's control over the funds, and gives the Sponsored Program no ownership of or control over them. A Reserve Balance does not keep a Fund from becoming dormant under Section 4.3.

(d) Changes to Giving Rules. The Sponsored Program may request changes to its Giving Rules at any time. Changes take effect once HelpLink approves them, and must remain consistent with the Fund's approved charitable purpose and HelpLink's mission. Donors are informed through HelpLink's Donor Agreement that contributions to a Fund are restricted to its approved charitable purposes, and that HelpLink may apply them to comparable or broader charitable purposes within the same Fund if the Giving Rules cannot be met or have been modified. HelpLink retains full variance power and fiduciary control over the ultimate use of all funds.

(e) Payouts to the Sponsored Program. When opening a Support Fund, or later, the Sponsored Program may ask HelpLink to approve either or both of the following. Each request must explain how the payout serves the Fund's charitable purpose. HelpLink may approve, limit, or decline either at its sole discretion.

(i) Reimbursements. Reimbursement of expenses the Sponsored Program has already paid for a charitable purpose within the Fund's approved scope. Each request must include documentation, such as receipts or proof of payment, and must identify the category of expense. Expenses HelpLink can pay directly, such as rent, utilities, or other bills owed to a creditor, should be posted as needs on the HelpLink platform rather than reimbursed. HelpLink reviews reimbursements by category and may ask the Sponsored Program to post needs instead.

With each reimbursement request, the Sponsored Program represents that the person helped was eligible under the Fund's Giving Rules and was selected on the basis of need, not designated by any donor, and that no contribution to the Fund was solicited or received for that person's benefit. HelpLink may decline any reimbursement where it cannot confirm these representations, including where contributions to the Fund coincided with the expense.

(ii) Payment for Services. Payment for services the Sponsored Program itself provides as part of the Fund's charitable purpose. Before requesting any payment for services, the Sponsored Program must have a rate card approved by HelpLink, listing each service, its unit, and the range of rates charged, with a description of the services. HelpLink approves rates only where they are reasonable for the service and consistent with the Fund's charitable purpose, and may decline a rate card or any change to it. Each request must include an invoice, must be priced from the rate card in effect when the request is submitted, and must relate to services provided to a single recipient. HelpLink will not pay any amount above an approved rate.

(iii) Bank Account. Payouts are made only to a U.S. business bank account in the Sponsored Program's name that HelpLink has reviewed and approved. HelpLink reviews any change of bank account before making a payout to the new account.

In all cases, HelpLink retains sole discretion to approve or deny any payout request, may require additional documentation to ensure proper stewardship of funds in compliance with IRS guidelines and applicable laws, and makes payouts only for purposes consistent with the Fund's approved charitable purpose. Payouts are subject to the Stewardship Fee in Section 7.1.

4.2. Matching Funds (Organizational)

Organizations may establish sponsored Matching Funds under their fiscal sponsorship with HelpLink to encourage charitable giving on the HelpLink platform. Sponsored Matching Funds allow HelpLink to apply matching contributions from a designated matching fund pool, in response to eligible donations made on the platform, subject to the organization's stated preferences and HelpLink's charitable mission.

Contributions to a sponsored Matching Fund may be made by the organization, its employees, or other invited contributors. All such contributions are irrevocable charitable gifts to HelpLink and do not confer ownership, control, or donor-advised rights in the Matching Fund.

(a) Fund Management and Discretion. All Matching Funds are held and administered exclusively by HelpLink. While the organization may propose matching preferences or criteria (such as eligible programs, categories, locations, or match ratios), HelpLink retains full discretion and variance power over whether, when, and how matching funds are applied. HelpLink may publicly display the organization's name and matching commitment as part of platform fundraising efforts.

All donations made through the platform, including those eligible for matching, are charitable contributions to HelpLink and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

(b) Matching Plan Updates. Organizations may request updates to matching preferences from time to time. HelpLink may honor such requests at its discretion, provided they remain consistent with the organization's approved charitable purpose and HelpLink's fiduciary obligations. If matching preferences are modified, suspended, or cannot be applied as originally stated, HelpLink may apply matching funds to comparable or broader charitable purposes in furtherance of its mission.

4.3. Dormant Funds

A Program Fund is dormant when it holds a balance and has made no disbursement for twelve (12) consecutive months, counted from the later of the Fund's opening and its last disbursement. A disbursement whose funds are later returned to the Fund does not count as a disbursement, and neither do contributions to the Fund or matching commitments that find nothing to match.

HelpLink will notify the Sponsored Program at least thirty (30) days before acting on a dormant Fund. If the Fund makes a disbursement before then, it is no longer dormant. Otherwise, HelpLink may apply the Fund's balance, however small, to posted needs that meet the Fund's preferences or, where none are available, to the posted needs HelpLink determines most closely match the Fund's charitable purpose, and may close the Fund once its balance has been applied.

5. Fundraising and Promotional Events

5.1. Fundraising Disclosure Requirement

Sponsored Programs may conduct fundraising activities that benefit their Fund without prior written approval, provided that all promotional materials (including flyers, digital media, event pages, and social posts) prominently include the following disclosure, or substantially similar language approved by HelpLink:

"Donations to support [Program Name] are made to HelpLink (helplink.org), a 501(c)(3) public charity that serves as the fiscal sponsor for this program. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law."

All fundraising communications must:

(a) Clearly indicate that contributions are made to HelpLink for the benefit of the Sponsored Program;

(b) Avoid any implication that the Sponsored Program itself is an independent 501(c)(3) organization;

(d) Solicit contributions for the Fund's approved charitable purpose generally, and not for the benefit of any identified or identifiable individual or household. Fundraising communications may not name, depict, or otherwise identify a person as the intended beneficiary of contributions to the Fund, or state or imply that contributions will be used to meet a particular person's need. HelpLink alone determines whose needs a Fund meets, in accordance with its Giving Rules.

If contributions are solicited in connection with an identified individual, HelpLink may treat them as general contributions to the Fund, decline to apply the Fund to that individual's need or to reimburse expenses incurred on that individual's behalf, return the contributions to donors, or take any action under Section 5.4. A Sponsored Program that wishes to help a specific person may post that person's need on the HelpLink platform, where it is reviewed and funded under HelpLink's Terms of Use and Donor Agreement.

HelpLink reserves the right to require edits, suspend, or prohibit any use of its name, logo, or charitable status in connection with a campaign that is inaccurate, misleading, or inconsistent with HelpLink's policies.

5.2. Commercial Co-Venturer (CCV) Activities and Charitable Sales Promotions

5.2.1 Definition. A "Commercial Co-Venturer Activity" or "Charitable Sales Promotion" means any advertising, marketing, or promotional activity in which a business, vendor, or commercial entity (a "Commercial Co-Venturer" or "CCV") represents to the public — whether through advertising, signage, packaging, websites, mobile applications, social media, email, point-of-sale displays, or any other medium — that the purchase or use of any goods, services, entertainment, or other thing of value will result in a contribution, donation, or transfer of any portion of proceeds, profits, or sales to HelpLink for the benefit of a Sponsored Program. This definition includes, without limitation, "X% of sales benefit [Fund Name]" promotions, fixed-dollar-per-unit promotions, social media free-action campaigns where consumer engagement triggers a donation, point-of-sale round-up campaigns, and any analogous activity that meets the definition of a "commercial co-venture" or "charitable sales promotion" under any applicable state charitable solicitation law.

5.2.2 Scope. This Section 5.2 applies whenever the Sponsored Program itself acts as the Commercial Co-Venturer for its own Fund, when the Sponsored Program partners with a third-party Commercial Co-Venturer, or when any Commercial Co-Venturer otherwise advertises a benefit to a Sponsored Program's Fund.

5.2.3 Master Written Agreement. Sponsored Program acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement, together with the campaign-specific information submitted through the HelpLink platform pursuant to Section 5.2.6, shall constitute the written agreement between HelpLink and the Commercial Co-Venturer required by applicable state charitable solicitation laws. To the extent the Commercial Co-Venturer is a third party that has not separately accepted these Terms, Sponsored Program shall ensure the Commercial Co-Venturer accepts the campaign-specific terms presented at the time of submission, which terms incorporate by reference the relevant provisions of this Agreement.

5.2.4 Compliant Disclosures Required. All advertising, marketing, packaging, signage, websites, social media posts, and any other promotional materials used in connection with a Commercial Co-Venturer Activity must clearly and prominently include all of the following:

(a) The actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit HelpLink for the Fund's benefit, expressed as a fixed dollar amount per unit (e.g., "$1.00 from every product sold") or as a fixed percentage (e.g., "10% of the sale price");

(b) The duration of the campaign, including specific start and end dates;

(c) Any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., "up to a maximum of $5,000" or "with a guaranteed minimum donation of $1,000");

(d) The name "HelpLink" and a statement that HelpLink is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 81-5466752) serving as the fiscal sponsor for the Sponsored Program; and

(e) Such additional disclosures as may be required by the charitable solicitation laws of any state in which the promotion is conducted or advertised.

Vague terms such as "proceeds," "profits," "net proceeds," "a portion of sales," or similar are expressly prohibited and do not satisfy this requirement. The disclosure must be clear, conspicuous, and proximate to the principal marketing of the campaign.

5.2.5 Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Commercial Co-Venturer represents and warrants that it shall, at its sole cost and expense:

(a) Register, post any required surety bond, and file any required contracts or campaign reports in each U.S. state in which the Commercial Co-Venturer Activity is conducted or advertised;

(b) Comply with all applicable federal and state advertising, consumer protection, and charitable solicitation laws and regulations;

(c) Maintain accurate and complete records of gross sales, units sold, and donation calculations relating to the Commercial Co-Venturer Activity for not less than three (3) years from the conclusion of the campaign, and make such records available to HelpLink upon request; and

(d) Cooperate fully with any inquiry, audit, or examination by HelpLink or by any state or federal regulatory authority concerning the Commercial Co-Venturer Activity.

5.2.6 Campaign Documentation and Remittance. The Commercial Co-Venturer shall:

(a) Where practicable, submit campaign details to HelpLink through the platform prior to the start of the campaign, including the disclosure language to be used, and obtain HelpLink's confirmation that the disclosure language is compliant with this Agreement;

(b) Remit all funds owed to HelpLink for the benefit of the Sponsored Program's Fund within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the campaign or, in the case of a campaign exceeding ninety (90) days, on a quarterly basis; and

(c) Submit a campaign accounting through the HelpLink platform at the time of remittance, including (i) campaign name and description, (ii) start and end dates, (iii) products or services involved, (iv) geographic scope and states in which the promotion was conducted, (v) pledge type and amount, (vi) gross sales generated, (vii) amount remitted, (viii) any cap or guaranteed minimum, and (ix) the disclosure language actually used in promotional materials.

5.2.7 Reservation of Rights. HelpLink reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to:

(a) Require pre-approval of any disclosure language, advertising material, or campaign structure prior to the campaign going live;

(b) Suspend, prohibit, or require modification of any Commercial Co-Venturer Activity that HelpLink determines to be inaccurate, misleading, non-compliant with this Agreement, or inconsistent with HelpLink's policies or charitable mission;

(c) Refuse to receive, hold, or distribute funds from any Commercial Co-Venturer Activity that has not been documented in compliance with this Section 5.2; and

(d) Disclose the existence of any Commercial Co-Venturer Activity, the participating Commercial Co-Venturer, and the financial outcome of the campaign in HelpLink's IRS Form 990, state charitable registrations, public reports, and similar disclosures.

5.2.8 Indemnification. Sponsored Program and Commercial Co-Venturer (jointly and severally, where they are different parties) shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless HelpLink, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to (i) any Commercial Co-Venturer Activity, (ii) any breach of this Section 5.2, (iii) any misrepresentation, deceptive advertising, or non-compliance with applicable law in connection with a Commercial Co-Venturer Activity, or (iv) any failure to register, bond, file, or report as required by applicable state charitable solicitation laws.

5.2.9 Survival. The obligations under Sections 5.2.5(c), 5.2.6, 5.2.7(d), and 5.2.8 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

5.3. Accounting and Compliance

Funds raised through approved events are considered contributions to HelpLink and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors and customers will receive receipts only after funds have been remitted to HelpLink. HelpLink retains full discretion and control over all funds received through such events.

5.4. Unremitted or Improperly Managed Funds

If a Sponsored Program or Commercial Co-Venturer fails to remit proceeds within the timeframe required by Section 5.2.6, omits any disclosure required by Section 5.2.4, fails to comply with applicable law as required by Section 5.2.5, or otherwise conducts a campaign inconsistent with this Agreement, HelpLink may issue a compliance notice, suspend or terminate the sponsorship relationship, refuse to recognize received funds as charitable contributions, and, if required by law, report the activity to the appropriate state or federal authorities. Funds shall not be considered charitable contributions to HelpLink unless and until they are received in full.

6. Reporting and Recordkeeping

Programs must:

(a) Maintain accurate financial records;

(b) Submit reports through HelpLink's platform when requested; and

7. Fees and Administrative Costs

7.1. Stewardship Fee on Payouts

Each reimbursement or payment for services made to the Sponsored Program from a Support Fund is subject to a Stewardship Fee, a percentage of the payout amount. The standard rate is 6%, or 5% for registered and verified nonprofit organizations. HelpLink sets each Fund's rate. The rate applied to a payout is the Fund's rate when the request is submitted.

When requesting a payout, the Sponsored Program chooses how the Stewardship Fee is paid:

(a) From the Fund. The Fund pays the payout amount plus the Stewardship Fee, and the Sponsored Program receives the full payout amount; or

(b) From the payout. The Fund pays the payout amount, and the Sponsored Program receives the payout amount less the Stewardship Fee.

HelpLink offers only the options the Fund's available balance supports. No Stewardship Fee is charged on a payout request that is denied.

The Stewardship Fee is allocated to HelpLink's general charitable operations. It supports HelpLink's administrative and compliance obligations for payouts, including documentation and rate review, bank account verification, financial reporting, accounting segregation, and payment processing. Stewardship Fees on payouts already made are not refundable.

7.2. Contributions and Posted Needs

No Stewardship Fee is charged on contributions to any Program Fund. When a Program Fund pays for a posted need, the need's price already includes HelpLink's standard Fulfillment Fee, which covers verification, processing, and delivery costs associated with meeting posted needs. No Stewardship Fee applies to payments for posted needs.

See our Terms of Use and Donor Agreement for more information about our Fulfillment Fee and how it is applied to posted needs on the HelpLink Platform.

8. Banking, Interest, and Program Fund Management

Program funds may be held in a centralized pooled bank account managed by HelpLink for administrative efficiency. HelpLink uses internal accounting systems to track the balance and activity of each Sponsored Program individually. Any interest or earnings accrued from holding program funds will be retained by HelpLink to support its general operations, unless otherwise specified in writing. Sponsored Programs acknowledge that they are not entitled to any earned interest.

9. Termination and Remaining Funds

This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days written notice. Upon termination, HelpLink will use all remaining funds, at its sole discretion and in accordance with applicable law, in one or more of the following ways:

(a) applied to posted needs that meet the Fund's Giving Rules or, where none are available, to the posted needs HelpLink determines most closely match the Fund's charitable purpose;

(b) distributed to another 501(c)(3) organization aligned with the charitable purpose of the program; or

10. OFAC Compliance

The Sponsored Program represents and warrants that neither it nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or affiliates is a person or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by persons or entities that are:

(a) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC or any other relevant sanctions authority; or

(b) located, organized, or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive sanctions.

The Sponsored Program agrees to comply with all applicable sanctions laws and regulations and shall not engage in any transactions that would cause HelpLink to be in violation of such laws and regulations.

11. No Employment or Legal Partnership

Nothing in these Terms shall be interpreted to create an employer-employee, partnership, or agency relationship between HelpLink and the Sponsored Program.

12. Modifications

HelpLink reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Continued participation after notice of changes constitutes agreement to the updated Terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.

14. Contact Information

For questions or concerns about this Agreement, please contact us at [email protected]