Finding a Fiscal Sponsor: The Support System I Didn’t Know I Needed

By Rebecca Trinh

When I set out to launch a grassroots scientific expedition with my friends to retrace John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts’ 1940 Sea of Cortez journey, I thought the biggest challenges would be logistics at sea, research permits, and funding. I quickly learned there was another layer I hadn’t even considered: infrastructure. As a newly independent, (thanks DOGE for getting rid of my job at NOAA) scientist working outside a traditional institution, I didn’t just need money—I needed a home base. That’s when I discovered fiscal sponsorship.

Partnering with Blue Marble Space Institute of Science (BMSIS) changed everything. Their 501(c)(3) status meant our donors could make tax-deductible contributions, which immediately made fundraising more feasible and credible. Through their Zeffy platform, we could crowdsource support from the public—an unconventional but powerful way to fund science rooted in storytelling and community.

But the biggest surprise was insurance. To film interviews and archival materials in Monterey—at historic scientific sites tied to Steinbeck and Ricketts—we were required to provide certificates of commercial liability insurance. I had never encountered this before. BMSIS stepped in, worked with their broker, and helped us navigate the paperwork needed to film legally and responsibly. Without that coverage, key parts of our documentary simply wouldn’t have happened.

Fiscal sponsorship and becoming a research affiliate with BMSIS also meant belonging to a community. BMSIS’ seminars and network go beyond traditional science, embracing conversations at the intersection of research, art, philosophy, and storytelling—exactly where our project lives. Their support helped bring our team together in Monterey for filming and a community fundraiser, where we connected with students, local residents, and each other in ways that strengthened both the science and the story.

A fiscal sponsor isn’t just a financial conduit. It’s credibility, protection, infrastructure, and community—all of which make independent, mission-driven science possible. For anyone pursuing research beyond traditional institutions, finding the right fiscal sponsor can be the difference between an idea and a living project. I highly recommend searching for your fiscal sponsor match early in your planning process.