Social Impact Commons Inc.

Social Impact Commons Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equity and effectiveness in the nonprofit sector through fiscal sponsorship. Founded in 2020, it operates as a member-governed supporting organization, focusing on building the capacity of fiscal sponsor organizations in the United States and internationally.

Mission

The mission of Social Impact Commons is to bring communities together to share resources, with a goal of creating a just and flourishing society. It achieves this by fostering a community of practice that promotes equitable and inclusive resource sharing, particularly through a next-generation approach known as "management commons." This model emphasizes peer governance, intentional community building, and ongoing mutual learning and care between sponsors and projects[1][2].

Vision

The organization envisions a future where everyone with the will to create social good has access to the necessary resources for their vision and purpose to flourish. It strives to establish a management commons in every community, supporting those working towards a better world[1].

Activities

Social Impact Commons works on two main fronts:

• Capacity Building: It provides whole-systems advisory support, tools, technologies, and shared resources to fiscal sponsor organizations and philanthropies, helping them effectively support their communities of projects[1].
• Research and Advocacy: The organization leads in research and advocacy efforts for the field of fiscal sponsorship, including data collection, research, public awareness campaigns through media relations, publications, workshops, and advocacy initiatives[1].

Fiscal Sponsorship

Social Impact Commons promotes fiscal sponsorship as a vital strategy for sustainability in the nonprofit sector. Fiscal sponsorship allows 501(c)(3) public charities to support mission-aligned projects by sharing legal, operational, and financial infrastructures. This arrangement can take several forms, including the Pre-approved Grant (Model C) and Comprehensive Models (Model A), each offering different levels of integration and support for projects[5].

Membership and Impact

The organization currently supports over 100 fiscal sponsor organizations, philanthropies, and allied groups, with a community of about 700 individuals. Members benefit from access to best practices, strategic guidance, tools, and networking opportunities, which help enhance their effectiveness and equity in fiscal sponsorship practices[2][3].

Legal Status

Social Impact Commons Inc. is a Delaware nonprofit, non-stock corporation, exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and classified as a Type I Supporting Organization under Section 509(a)(3) of the IRC[4].

Social Impact Commons operates with a commitment to transparency, as reflected in its governance structure and public access to organizational documents[4].

[1] https://www.socialimpactcommons.org/about [2] https://www.socialimpactcommons.org [3] https://www.socialimpactcommons.org/our-commons [4] https://www.socialimpactcommons.org/documents [5] https://www.socialimpactcommons.org/fiscal-sponsorship-101