Anyone used a fiscal sponsor for their Mutant Vehicle?

[msmohit]

It's been suggested that we work with a fiscal sponsor to manage the funds for the art car we are building. Has anyone had experience working with a fiscal sponsor for an art car?

[junglesmacks]

I heard he works pretty cheap and keeps track of your money well..

[lemur]

it works for nascar

[Bay Bridge Sue]

Hard to do when that sponsor wants recognition for the art car, and puts their brand name on it, or uses its pix from on playa in their advertising...

I remember a waffle once named Uchronia...

[jkisha]

Hard to do when that sponsor wants recognition for the art car, and puts their brand name on it, or uses its pix from on playa in their advertising...

I remember a waffle once named Uchronia...

Uchronia was a Company Sponsor name? I did not know that.

[lemur]

viewtopic.php?f=56&t=15570

throwingthunder » 31 Oct 2006, 18:59
I'm just curious... How did 'Uchronia' (the Belgian Waffle) end up in a television commercial for a new 2007 Lexus?

[oneeyeddick]

It's been suggested that we work with a fiscal sponsor to manage the funds for the art car we are building. Has anyone had experience working with a fiscal sponsor for an art car?

If you can get one that doesn't expect to run an ad on your car I say go for it.

(there are a LOT of non-profits out there that give grants for art and other worthless endeavors)

[jkisha]

Thanks for the link. There's only one photo left in that thread and the picture doesn't look like it was shot at burning man. The link to the website is no longer active. Were there pictures actually taken at BM used in their ad? From what I can see, I don't much object.

[oneeyeddick]

There was a TV commercial of a Lexus driving by the Waffle, but it is gone now, probably because it is old now not because BM had anything to do with it.

[some seeing eye]

Are you talking about a "fiscal agent" a 501(C)(3) nonprofit that can accept tax deductible contributions on your behalf in exchange for say 15% administrative fee?

[trilobyte]

I don't think the mish-mash of plywood shapes was unique to Uchronia (the waffle). Arne Quinze (one of the chief architects) uses the concept A LOT. If I remember correctly, Uchronia was self funded. Jan and Arne and their core campmates owned or ran a few successful small businesses, they each kicked in the cash needed to buy the materials and bring their crew (family/friends/coworkers) out to build the project.

As for taking a fiscal sponsor, I've never done it. My personal advice would be to make sure that any prospective donors or sponsors understand that they would get no promotional consideration whatsoever in exchange for their kind and generous support. No brand names or logos on the vehicle, and no photos/videos of people enjoying the sponsor's products on the playa. Photos/videos are okay to share, but it needs to be made clear that they are for personal, non-commercial use only.

[msmohit]

Yes. That's exactly what I'm asking about.

[msmohit]

[quote="some seeing eye"]Are you talking about a "fiscal agent" a 501(C)(3) nonprofit that can accept tax deductible contributions on your behalf in exchange for say 15% administrative fee?[/quote]

Meant to include this in my response. That's exactly what I'm asking about. I've worked with "fiscal sponsors" (I think that's actually the legal term) before for other one-time non-profit projects and I know that some playa art projects have used them. I was wondering if anyone had worked with a FS for an art car.

Thanks.

[msmohit]

Oh and just to clarify, I'm definitely not asking about raising money from a "sponsor" I have already raised the money for the project, but I'd love to be able to have the contributors make their contributions tax deductible since this is a public art project.

[some seeing eye]

I would contact the Artery & the Black Rock Arts Foundation and ask if they know of any in your city who have done it for more than one Burning Man art project, and any they know who have done it for a MV. There is a lot of paperwork and questions that have to be answered exactly correctly.

Personally I can't say I'm 100% behind the idea of BM activities qualifying. Good luck though!

[gyre]

I remember some whinging from people already using mvs, that it wasn't "real" if you don't build and fund it all on your own.
The ones I've worked on weren't built by one person though.

I've never done this for an mv, but I have some marketing experience with concerts and racing sponsorship.

I have negotiated for items to be given away on the playa.
It really gets to be fun when I ask them to pay to cover their own branding.
I really should record these conversations.