How It Works

People lead. Infrastructure follows.

Launch Pad helps community builders operate charitable work responsibly without asking them to create a standalone institution before the work is ready.

The Spark relationship

One leader, one charitable home, clear responsibilities.

Model C fiscal sponsorship is a pre-approved grant relationship. The Spark leads the work; LPF receives charitable contributions in its own name and retains the legal discretion, control, and oversight required of a public charity.

The Spark leads

  • • The vision and charitable purpose
  • • Community relationships and local trust
  • • Fundraising and supporter relationships
  • • Day-to-day delivery of the approved work
  • • Timely requests, documentation, and reporting

Launch Pad provides

  • • A 501(c)(3) charitable home
  • • Contribution processing and project accounting
  • • Charitable oversight and compliance
  • • Review of documented funding requests
  • • Analog OS and the Spark community

Charitable control

Contributions are made to LPF. Donors may recommend a Spark, but LPF retains discretion and reviews uses of charitable funds.

Visible operations

Analog OS gives Sparks a live view of gifts, available funds, requests, and reporting while preserving LPF's oversight.

A clear fee

The standard fiscal-sponsorship fee is 8% of net funds LPF receives after payment-processing fees. The sponsorship agreement describes the fee.

Separate decisions

Fiscal sponsorship is not a funding award.

LPF also makes selected grants. Grantmaking and fiscal sponsorship are different programs: acceptance as a Spark does not guarantee Launch Pad funding, and an LPF grant does not automatically create a fiscal-sponsorship relationship.

A Spark does not receive a built-in donor audience. Project leaders remain responsible for earning trust, building supporter relationships, and raising the funds their work needs.

Compare the two forms of support

Ready to see whether Spark is a fit?

Expressions of interest are welcome year-round nationwide. LPF reviews mission alignment and charitable purpose and may invite a full application. An invitation is not acceptance. Acceptance is a separate decision; accepted Sparks complete an agreement and onboarding.

Already applied or invited? Continue through your personal application link instead of starting again.

Express interest