Nonprofit Fiscal Sponsorship Advisor – Short-Term Volunteer Project

About Compathos Foundation

Since 2010, Compathos Foundation has advanced environmental stewardship and social well-being through the power of storytelling, education, and community engagement. Building on more than fifteen years of nonprofit leadership, the Foundation has produced award-winning films, educational initiatives, interactive media, public events, and digital platforms that inspire positive environmental and social change.

Our signature initiative, Films for the Planet, is a global streaming platform connecting audiences with outstanding environmental and social-impact documentaries, filmmakers, experts, educators, and organizations working toward a more sustainable and compassionate future.

Compathos works with award-winning filmmakers and experienced media professionals whose projects use storytelling as a catalyst for education, engagement, and meaningful social impact.

As part of the next phase of our work, we are preparing to re-establish our Fiscal Sponsorship Program to selectively support exceptional independent film, media, and impact projects aligned with our charitable mission.

The Opportunity

Compathos Foundation is seeking an experienced nonprofit or fiscal sponsorship professional for a short-term volunteer advisory project to help us comprehensively review, update, and prepare our existing Fiscal Sponsorship Program for relaunch.

Rather than administering the program on an ongoing basis, this volunteer will help us build the policies, processes, agreements, evaluation criteria, financial procedures, and governance framework needed for responsible long-term operation.

Once the program framework is established and approved, ongoing financial oversight will reside with the Foundation's Treasurer/CFO and Board, working in collaboration with the Executive Director, professional bookkeeper, and external CPA.

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution within a defined timeframe by helping an established nonprofit build a strong foundation for the next generation of its fiscal sponsorship work.

Project Scope

The Fiscal Sponsorship Advisor will work collaboratively with the Executive Director and, as appropriate, the Treasurer/CFO, bookkeeper, CPA, Board, and other professional advisors to:

• Review the Foundation's existing Fiscal Sponsorship Program, documents, and procedures.
• Review and help refine the fiscal sponsorship model, policies, controls, fee structure, and operating procedures.
• Help establish a clear application, evaluation, approval, and project-vetting process.
• Review and help refine the fiscal sponsorship agreement from a governance and operational perspective, identifying provisions that may warrant legal or CPA review.
• Establish criteria for evaluating charitable and mission alignment, organizational risk, project readiness, and financial feasibility.
• Help define procedures for receiving, restricting, tracking, approving, and disbursing charitable project funds.
• Clarify responsibilities and workflows among sponsored projects, the Executive Director, Treasurer/CFO, bookkeeper, CPA, and Board.
• Help establish appropriate financial and program reporting requirements for sponsored projects.
• Develop or refine a standard evaluation rubric for prospective sponsored projects.
• Identify governance, compliance, financial, and operational risks prior to program relaunch.
• Recommend when specialized legal, accounting, or other professional review is appropriate.
• Help create a practical framework that can be efficiently managed and governed once the initial program-development work is complete.

Existing Infrastructure

Compathos has previous fiscal sponsorship experience and existing program materials that will serve as the starting point for review and modernization.

The Foundation also has established professional financial support:

• An experienced bookkeeper responsible for accounting and transaction processing.
• An external CPA providing tax and nonprofit accounting support.
• An Executive Director overseeing organizational and program operations.
• A Board Treasurer/CFO responsible for ongoing financial governance and oversight.

The goal of this project is to bring these elements together into a clear, well-documented, sustainable Fiscal Sponsorship Program.

Preferred Qualifications

We welcome experienced professionals with backgrounds in one or more of the following:

• Fiscal sponsorship program development or administration.
• Nonprofit governance and compliance.
• Nonprofit or charitable organization law.
• Foundation or institutional grantmaking.
• Grant agreements and restricted-fund oversight.
• Nonprofit operations, finance, or risk management.
• Development or administration of sponsored-project programs.

Direct experience with fiscal sponsorship is strongly preferred.

Familiarity with pre-approved grant relationships, charitable-purpose review, variance power, restricted/project funds, expenditure responsibility, and the distinctions among fiscal sponsorship models is especially valuable.

Legal or CPA credentials are welcomed but are not required. We are primarily seeking practical experience, sound judgment, and an understanding of the governance and compliance responsibilities associated with responsible fiscal sponsorship.

Why Volunteer With Compathos?

This is an opportunity to help shape a thoughtfully designed fiscal sponsorship program supporting a small, carefully selected portfolio of high-quality projects.

Compathos Foundation works with award-winning filmmakers, experienced media professionals, and mission-driven storytellers addressing important environmental and social issues. Our goal is not to operate a high-volume fiscal sponsorship program, but to provide a strong nonprofit home for select projects aligned with our mission and values.

Your contribution will leave Compathos with a stronger program, clearer systems, and the organizational capacity to support exceptional storytelling projects for years to come.

For someone with fiscal sponsorship, nonprofit governance, foundation, legal, or charitable-sector experience, this is an opportunity to contribute specialized expertise in a focused, practical, and lasting way.

Compensation

This is a short-term volunteer advisory position. No financial compensation is provided.