The Funding Studio

The Funding StudioThe Funding StudioThe Funding Studio

The Funding Studio

The Funding StudioThe Funding StudioThe Funding Studio
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Apply For Fiscal Sponsorship

Book A Workshop

Melissa Watson Erickson, CFRE

I empower artists and future nonprofit leaders to access the funds they need to make their big ideas happen!

Signature Programs : Available as Live Workshops

 Each of our Signature Programs can be delivered as an engaging live workshop, tailored to your class, projects, or audience. Whether you're just getting started or looking to level up your fundraising, these hands-on sessions provide tools, strategies, and actionable guidance to help you succeed. 

Past Audiences Include

The National Network of Fiscal Sponsors, Grand Canyon University, Arizona State University, Show Low Film Festival, The Fiscal Sponsor Hub, UCLA Film Department, Junior League of Phoenix, Southern Arizona Film Society, World Wide Martial Arts Film Festival

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Signature Programs & Workshops

Recurring Giving

Corporate Sponsorship

Recurring Giving

Design a sustainable monthly giving engine through a studio fund tailored to your audience. Build long-term donor relationships and steady revenue with a recurring giving strategy that aligns with your mission and community.

Crowdfunding

Corporate Sponsorship

Recurring Giving

Plan and launch a studio fund campaign with proven timelines and engagement tools. From messaging to momentum, learn how to mobilize your network and hit your campaign goals.

Corporate Sponsorship

Corporate Sponsorship

Corporate Sponsorship

Identify, pitch, and secure mission-aligned brand partners to support your studio fund. Craft a compelling sponsorship package and connect with businesses that believe in your work.

Grant Writing

Rethinking Nonprofit Startups: The Case for Fiscal Sponsorship

Corporate Sponsorship

Develop compelling proposals with frameworks, examples, and expert review to secure funding from a studio fund. Learn how to write clear, persuasive grants that resonate with funders and significantly increase your chances of success.

Putting the Pieces Together to Fund Your Artistic Vision

Rethinking Nonprofit Startups: The Case for Fiscal Sponsorship

Rethinking Nonprofit Startups: The Case for Fiscal Sponsorship

Discover how to turn your creative passion into a sustainable career with the power of philanthropic funding and studio funds. This workshop will explore actionable strategies for artists to access grants, secure donor support, and build partnerships that fuel their projects.

Rethinking Nonprofit Startups: The Case for Fiscal Sponsorship

Rethinking Nonprofit Startups: The Case for Fiscal Sponsorship

Rethinking Nonprofit Startups: The Case for Fiscal Sponsorship

Starting a nonprofit can be daunting, with long waits for tax-exempt status and high overhead costs threatening early success. However, exploring options like a studio fund can provide a smarter, more efficient path for those considering starting a nonprofit. Learn how fiscal sponsors streamline compliance, reduce administrative burdens, and maximize funds for program impact, allowing a studio fund to flourish. We'll also address the myth of 'overhead' and why funders should embrace this model as a cost-effective solution to drive sustainable, impactful change.

Testimonial

💙 This feedback from our recent NNFS panel means everything!

When sponsors and funders understand each other better, everyone wins. 


This session was incredibly helpful for me. I had never considered before pushing back against funders who are hesitant to work with sponsored projects or fiscal sponsors in general, including those related to studio fund initiatives. I feel like I gained so many insights and strategies to broach these topics with funders myself, and also tools I can share with our projects for how they can lead these conversations as well.


I appreciated that the panelists could speak from both the perspective of fiscal sponsors and the perspective of working in funding. This is exactly why we do this work, equipping fiscal sponsors and their projects, including those focused on studio fund opportunities, with the confidence and strategies to advocate for themselves with funders.

Woman speaking into a microphone on stage with focused lighting.
  • Support The Studio
  • Book An Appointment
  • Fiscal Sponsorship
  • Fundraising Packages
  • Workshops
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Articles
  • Resources
  • Work With US!
  • Membership Portal

The Funding Studio

7650 S McClintock Dr. ste 103-196 Tempe AZ 85284-1674

Copyright © 2026 The Funding Studio - All Rights Reserved.

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