Partnerships

For Founders & Fund Managers

Unlock New Capital Pathways

At Inspire Access, we recognize that raising capital can be difficult even in the best market and are here to support you in this journey by unlocking a new pathway with philanthropic capital. While we cannot fundraise on your behalf or have access to a set pool of funds to invest, we provide a vehicle through which donor-investors can deploy their philanthropic capital towards your for-profit venture. 

How We Partner

We offer two services for channeling philanthropic capital into your company or fund, depending on the investment structure you agree to with your investor(s)

Program-Related Investments (PRI)

A mission-driven investment structured according to your terms (e.g. equity, convertible instrument, debt) that has the possibility of generating returns that your donor-investors can utilize to fuel future impact. 

Fiscal Sponsorship (Model C)

A sponsorship structure that enables you to receive philanthropic capital as a one-time, non-recoverable grant - without your own 501(c)(3) registration.  


Our Partnership Eligibility Criteria

Please note that we provide examples of documents and considerations as a helpful guide to get you started. We recognize organizations are at different stages and expect your submission to reflect where you are.

  • These are our current non-negotiables for partnership, grounded in our mission, values, and obligations as a 501(c)(3) organization. This is not a substitute for due diligence that your investors may want to conduct prior to deciding whether to support you. 

    • A partner must be a U.S.-incorporated for-profit entity with an active FEIN and the majority of operations based in the U.S. (Please note we do not grantmake to nonprofits or facilitate investments into publicly traded securities or individuals).

    • A partner must be majority-owned or led by underrepresented individuals, or its primary mission must be to serve underrepresented communities (see how we think about underrepresentation here).

    • A partner must self-source investors with minimum commitments of $25,000. 

    • A partner must provide Inspire Access a copy of applicable investment terms and/or related documents.

    • A partner must be able to maintain basic accounting systems and accurate financial records  and be willing to provide semiannual reporting (e.g., income statement, balance sheet, cash flow), including details specific to Inspire Access’s investment, for our audit requirements. 

    • A partner must embody the five core values that guide how we operate as an organization: integrity, collaboration, growth, justice and respect (review in detail here). 

  • To be as transparent as possible and help you prepare for what to expect in our Partnership Form, below are additional assessment areas we will evaluate beyond the baseline requirements. 


    Market Awareness: Is there a clearly defined problem or gap being addressed? Who is the target audience? What are the market dynamics? Where does your organization fit within this landscape, and how is it positioned to create meaningful impact?

    Solution and Model Viability: Is the solution or investment strategy credible, functional, and capable of delivering the intended value? Does it demonstrate a viable model for generating value, both financial and impact?

    Organizational Readiness: Is there the right structure and team expertise to execute on the vision? 

    Financial Health: Is the organization managing its capital responsibly and sustainably? Does it have a clear understanding of its economics and a strategy for growth?

  • This is a non-exhaustive list of documents which could be helpful to include with your Partnership Form submission.

    • Pitch Deck/ Business Plan

    • Term Sheet (if available)

    • Current and prior financials (3 years if available)

    • Financial projections (assuming expected funds are raised)

    • Capital Structure (pre- and post-capital raise)

    • Private Placement Memorandum and Limited Partnership Agreement (if applicable)

    • Due Diligence Questionnaire (for funds if available)

    • Transaction Documents: Subscription agreement, stock purchase agreement, loan agreement, and other (as applicable)

    • Biographies of Key Management

Why Philanthropic Investing

Philanthropic investing can be an attractive option to an investor for one of two reasons: 

Tax-Efficient Deployment

When contributions are made through a 501(c)(3), like Inspire Access, investors are eligible to receive an income tax deduction, enabling them to align their values and financial planning. 

Greater Flexibility in Capital Allocation

Philanthropic capital gives investors an additional way to support you - drawing from funds already set aside for giving, so their ability to contribute is not constrained by existing personal or venture commitments.

Partner With Us

If you are considering one or both of our partnership services, we invite you to review our eligibility criteria above to better understand what we look for and how we work. If it feels like a good fit, we invite you to complete our Partnership Form.