United Charitable Programs (UCP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor of active charitable programs. Our mission is to create symbiotic relationships with social entrepreneurs in order to facilitate active charitable programs that make a better life for people in our community at a local, national, or even international level.
Once accepted, your program would become a part of our charity. Your program would not be separately incorporated. All donations and disbursement requests would come through our office.
UCP is not a grantmaking or fundraising organization; therefore, you are responsible for raising funds in the U.S. for your program. For more information about Fiscal Sponsorship at UCP, please click here.
For information about the differences between starting a nonprofit and using a fiscal sponsor, click here.
What Types of Charitable Programs Does UCP Fiscally Sponsor?
Active Charitable Programs (ACPs) – Charitable programs that actively raise tax-deductible donations from the public under UCP's supervision are called "Active Charitable Programs." UCP enables these programs to focus on their charitable mission by undertaking the “back office” administrative duties, and legal and corporate oversight. With UCP, Program Managers are able to carry out their charitable programs more effectively and efficiently. The Board of Directors of UCP maintains complete control and discretion over the use of funds, and oversees each program’s adherence to IRS tax-exempt purposes.
The active charitable programs that we accept and undertake at UCP will be able to have tax-exempt status under our auspices, as long as these programs remain in good-standing. We strive to share our knowledge and expertise with our projects to help them grow and succeed. UCP performs the various administrative tasks for these projects so that they will eventually make an impact and create a progressive, positive social change in our world. However, a Program Manager may NOT be a donor to an Active Charitable Program.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) – A DAF is a charitable gifting fund administered by UCP where tax-deductible funds that you raise (these donations can come from yourself, friends and relatives) can only be used for scholarships and distributions to other qualified charities.
If you would like to establish a DAF to simplify your giving, and you do not intend to conduct an operating charitable program, then please see our section on Beginning a Donor-Advised Fund.
Why Choose Fiscal Sponsorship at UCP?
The successful Program Managers of active charitable programs at UCP are social entrepreneurs who use the opportunity to partner with UCP in order to grow their charitable programs to potentially self-sustainable levels.
By administratively supporting these individual projects in many different charitable areas at nominal costs, UCP is able to affect constructive social change at a grassroots level, on a project by project basis. (Read The Differences Between Starting an Independent Nonprofit and Using a Fiscal Sponsor.)
Please complete the application below to propose that your active charitable program become a United Charitable Program. Please also sign the Legal Agreement and send it along with your Program Application.
If you would like to access additional forms that are necessary for a fiscally-sponsored program at UCP, please click here.
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