We help launch and nurture emerging initiatives that align with our mission. While fiscal sponsorship has long been a cornerstone of our work, our approach goes beyond financial infrastructure. Through Project Cultivation, we offer direct support, strategic guidance, and connection to a values-aligned community.
Our goal is to ensure project leaders feel empowered, resourced, and part of something bigger. We work closely with them to clarify vision early on and lay the groundwork for long-term impact—creating an ecosystem where bold ideas can take root and thrive.
Project Cultivation
Structure & Fees
Mediators Foundation generally provides comprehensive fiscal sponsorship under a Model A structure, while allowing project directors significant operational autonomy and contracting arrangements typical of Model C. This mixed approach allows us to support both project directors who are looking to run their own initiatives as well as funders who are looking for more comprehensive design & implementation from Mediators Foundation. Please see table before for more information.
Fiscal sponsorship is free, but to cover administrative labor on our end, we charge our projects 7% of the first $50,000 received in donations and 6% thereafter.
Our Offerings to Projects
Community Calls
We’re excited to now be hosting biannual Community Calls to create space for meaningful connection, collaboration, and relationship-building among our project partners.
These calls are designed to be a safe and supportive environment where project directors can share updates, ask challenging questions, offer and receive feedback, and draw from the collective wisdom of the network. Above all, they are a place to be seen, heard, and held in community.
Cohort Calls
As our network of projects has grown, we’ve observed thematic clusters emerging. Some projects are centered on media and technology; others focus on dialogue and deliberation, mis/disinformation, or network weaving. These “cohort calls” bring together project directors with shared focus areas to discuss emerging issues, share insights, and explore collaborative opportunities. These smaller, topic-specific gatherings will deepen learning and support tailored, field-level impact. The frequency of these calls, as well as the groupings will be collectively determined by current projects.
Reduced-Price Subscriptions
Projects can now opt into subaccounts under Mediators Foundation’s master plans for common services like Canva, Zeffy, and OpenAI, allowing them to benefit from discounted nonprofit rates. This simple shift can save projects hundreds of dollars annually while ensuring access to high-quality tools essential for communications, fundraising, and content creation.
Amplification
We’re committed to celebrating and amplifying the work of our projects and their staff. Whether through published articles, event highlights, or storytelling, we aim to showcase the thought leadership, creativity, and impact happening across our network. With our blog and upcoming newsletter, we offer platforms to share updates, promote events, and highlight ideas—creating opportunities for project directors to be seen, supported, and connected.
Strategic Advisory
As our network grows, we’re committed to building strong, early relationships with every new project. In addition to an onboarding meeting with Mesa Sebree, our Program Manager, new project directors are invited to connect with Jacob Bornstein, our President, and Alyssa Newlon, our Director of Development & Strategic Operations for a complimentary advisory session. This hour-long conversation offers guidance, relationship-building, and space to align around Mediators’ vision and services. It’s our way of ensuring each project starts off grounded, supported, and set up for long-term success. Ongoing advisory is also available on an as-needed basis via email.
