Across the education sector, leaders and entrepreneurs are tackling some of our country’s most complex challenges, from declining student proficiency to shrinking budgets. Innovative solutions to pressing educational problems often begin as bold, untested ideas — ideas that need the right support to grow. But even the most dedicated entrepreneurs can find themselves stretched thin, juggling visionary work with the day-to-day demands of running an organization.

That’s where Bellwether can help. In addition to our advising and policy work, our team of experts also helps promising ideas take root through fiscal partnerships that provide the operational backbone for mission-aligned organizations and individuals. These partnerships allow innovators to stay focused on what matters most: shaping a brighter future for young people. 

Why We Do This Work

Bellwether envisions a future where all young people have access to an excellent education and live lives filled with opportunity. And while we work to achieve that vision through our core consulting and policy work, fiscal partnerships allow us to extend our reach even further by supporting more individuals and organizations working toward that same future. 

How Does It Work?

With fiscal partnerships, leaders and entrepreneurs can concentrate on their mission while Bellwether’s in-house experts handle the operational essentials and back-office infrastructure. 

Bellwether offers two types of fiscal partnerships: fiscal sponsorships and sponsored fellowships. Fiscal sponsorships are designed for organizations that need varying degrees of operational support and infrastructure while they develop or scale their work. Sponsored fellowships, on the other hand, support individual leaders who need time, support, and a platform to develop their big ideas through projects or initiatives.

Bellwether’s comprehensive support of both fiscal sponsorships and sponsored fellowships includes:

• Human Resources: Hiring, onboarding, payroll, and benefits administration
• Finance: Accounts payable and receivable, invoicing, grant tracking, and financial reporting
• Contracting: Managing vendor and subcontractor agreements
• Compliance: Ensuring all operations meet federal and state requirements

Throughout a fiscal partnership, projects are legally part of Bellwether, which is possible due to our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. As initiatives grow stronger and more sustainable over time, they often spin off to become fully independent organizations.

Our fee structure is designed to balance sustainability and accessibility, ensuring leaders can take advantage of our infrastructure while they focus on their organization’s or big idea’s growth. In some cases, we work with partners to plan for their spin-off, setting them up for long-term success.

Organizations can also choose to stay fiscally sponsored by Bellwether indefinitely as long as they remain in good standing and continue to do work that aligns with our mission. All of our fiscal partnerships include ongoing operational guidance that helps organizations become well-versed in the ins and outs of launching new initiatives. 

Who We Partner With

We work with mission- and values-aligned leaders and entrepreneurs who bring credible theories of action and established funding to the table. Our past and current partnerships include:

• A sponsored fellowship for Jessica Levin, the director of Public Funds Public Schools, a national campaign striving to ensure that all public funds for education are used to maintain and support public schools.
• A fiscal sponsorship of The MOMENTUM Residency, a comprehensive professional development program shaping the future of school-based mental health services in the District of Columbia.
• A fiscal sponsorship of Excellent Schools New Mexico, a nonprofit working to ensure every child in New Mexico can reach their potential and lead healthy, meaningful lives.

We standardize our systems while tailoring our fiscal partnership services to meet the size, stage, and needs of individual clients. With every partner, we prioritize clear communication and transparent processes, and keep sustainability and impact at the forefront of the work.

As we continue to tailor and evolve our fiscal partnership services, we’re reimagining how we help through more flexible and accessible delivery models — including more pathways for early-stage ideas to flourish, such as cohort models, training and networking opportunities, à la carte services, and partnerships with early-stage funders.

Why It Matters for the Field

Fiscal partnerships expand access to critical infrastructure, enabling education leaders and entrepreneurs to launch and scale ideas they might not otherwise be able to pursue, as well as benefit from Bellwether’s reach and reputation in the field. These partnerships also generate sustainable revenue, allowing Bellwether to continue supporting the sector at large through our analyses, insights, and stress-tested solutions. 

By accelerating innovation without compromising financial or operational rigor, we’re expanding the educational ecosystem. Along the way, we’ll be scaling what works and sharing what we learn.

If you’re a funder or a leader with an early-stage idea, we invite you to explore partnering with Bellwether. To learn more, contact DaWana Williamson at dawana.williamson@bellwether.org.