The Giving Back Fund
The Giving Back Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 that provides fiscal sponsorship and philanthropy management services to professional athletes, celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and corporations, delivering immediate 501(c)(3) status, back-office administration, and compliance support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Giving Back Fund does
The Giving Back Fund (GBF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Boston, MA, that operates as a national fiscal sponsor and philanthropy management platform for professional athletes, celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and emerging nonprofit initiatives. Its core offering is a turnkey vehicle for establishing individual foundations and sponsored projects under GBF's own EIN and governance structure, providing immediate IRS 501(c)(3) status, multi-state charitable solicitation registration in 41 states, and a full back- and front-office service stack including banking, accounting, payroll, 1099 distribution, donor tracking, grantmaking assistance, and insurance coverage (D&O, general liability).
GBF's service architecture rests on three integrated modules: Administration & Management (back-office infrastructure with the proprietary SAGE online portal and donor tracking software for 24/7 financial visibility), Charity Status & Compliance (federal and state filings, annual audits, and multi-state registration), and Design/Build Philanthropy Solutions (vision/mission development, brand strategy, fundraising approach, and social media implementation). Digital donation capabilities integrate directly with foundation websites and social channels. The product surface also extends to named programs such as the Saatchi Scholarship ($10,000 annually with Saatchi & Saatchi mentorship) and the Legacy Lab Foundation Scholarship ($15,000 BIPOC legacy-maker award).
The revenue model is fee-for-service: GBF recovers administrative and management costs from a family of 18+ sponsored foundations and projects, with fees structured as shared back-office costs rather than standalone foundation overhead, yielding economies of scale the organization markets as a core differentiator. Customer segments split across professional athletes (e.g., Ben Roethlisberger, Jalen Rose, Arian Foster, Yao Ming, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson foundations), entertainment figures (Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Cara Delevingne), HNW individuals, and existing nonprofits seeking fiscal sponsorship (NEXUS, Invisible Hands, Social Innovation Summit). GTM combines direct sales/consulting with event-driven acquisition through high-profile charity gatherings (Big Game Big Give at the Super Bowl, NEXUS Global Summit, Mental Wealth EXPO) and a community-led referral network built over 25+ years, with thought-leadership content via the founder Marc Pollick's blog and a newsletter. The operating geography is national with global remote service delivery through the SAGE portal.
The Giving Back Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Giving Back Fund
- Legal name
- The Giving Back Fund
- Website
- https://givingback.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Giving Back Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 that provides fiscal sponsorship and philanthropy management services to professional athletes, celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and corporations, delivering immediate 501(c)(3) status, back-office administration, and compliance support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Giving Back Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fiscal Sponsorship and Philanthropy Management
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)
Keywords
Where The Giving Back Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Giving Back Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Administrative and Management Services: Provides administrative, financial, program and management support to foundations and sponsored projects. Revenue generated through shared administrative and management costs across the family of foundations, allowing cost-effective fees through economies of scale.
- Fiscal Sponsorship Services: Offers IRS 501(c)(3) status through their EIN for individuals, initiatives, or groups seeking immediate nonprofit status. Provides financial oversight and compliance services while sponsored projects receive tax-deductible grants and donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cost-effective shared administrative structure |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Giving Back Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Giving Back Fund (GBF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides fiscal sponsorship, administrative, financial, and management services to individual foundations, sponsored projects, and nonprofit initiatives. It operates as a flexible, cost-effective vehicle for establishing charitable foundations under a community foundation-style governance structure, granting immediate IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status through GBF's EIN while handling compliance, banking, accounting, donor tracking, payroll, and state registration across 41 states.
Product overview
The Giving Back Fund is a national nonprofit fiscal sponsor offering turnkey philanthropy solutions through a platform-plus-services model. The core offering consists of three interconnected service modules: Administration & Management (providing back-office infrastructure including banking, accounting, donor tracking, and payroll via SAGE online portal), Charity Status & Compliance (granting immediate IRS 501(c)(3) status through GBF's EIN), and Design/Build Philanthropy Solutions (guiding clients through program development, brand strategy, and social media). The organization also operates two named scholarship programs—the Saatchi Scholarship ($10,000 awards with mentorship) and the Legacy Lab Foundation Scholarship ($15,000 BIPOC student award)—and manages a family of 18+ sponsored foundations and projects including VOICE, NEXUS, Invisible Hands, and Social Innovation Summit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Administration & Management Comprehensive back-office and front-office administrative services for client foundations including day-to-day banking, accounting, financial reporting, donor tracking software management, expense reconciliation, payroll processing, and 1099 distribution, delivered via GBF's SAGE online portal.
- Charity Status & Compliance Provides immediate IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status through GBF's EIN, manages federal and state tax filings, annual audits, charitable solicitation registration across 41 states, and provides D&O, general liability, and other insurance coverage for client foundations.
- Design/Build Philanthropy Solutions Consulting service guiding clients through designing and building philanthropic programs including creating vision, mission, goals and strategies; supporting projects, programs, events and partnerships; developing fundraising approaches; and providing brand development, communication support, and social media strategy.
- Fiscal Sponsorship Provides individuals, initiatives, or groups with immediate 501(c)(3) nonprofit status under GBF's legal and tax-exempt purview, including financial oversight, compliance management, and the ability to receive tax-deductible grants and donations without an independent IRS application.
- Saatchi Scholarship Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Lower administrative and management fees compared to stand-alone foundations through economies of scale
Companies that use The Giving Back Fund
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Giving Back Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Giving Back Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Saatchi & SaatchicorePartnership through the Saatchi Scholarship Program, designed to provide financial assistance to creative, strategic, and data analytic students from diverse backgrounds. Scholarship recipients selected by panel of Creatives, Strategic Managers, Data Analysts, and Talent Managers at Saatchi & Saatchi. Includes mentorship component with Saatchi & Saatchi professionals.
- The Legacy Lab FoundationcorePartnership to award scholarships to BIPOC students representing next-generation of legacy-makers. The Legacy Lab has been researching and publishing on business leaders creating enduring change since 2012. McGraw-Hill Education published their book Legacy in the Making in March 2018.
- NexusflagshipNEXUS Global Summit brings together 350+ next-gen philanthropists, impact investors, and social innovators. Event held in New York City over 2.5 days with world-renowned speakers, hands-on masterclasses, and action-oriented roundtables under theme Brave Voices and Bold Ideas.
- Claire'sminorCorporate partnership established for Jamie-Lynn Sigler's foundation to create a bracelet initiative spreading healthy lifestyle messages and information about dangers of eating disorders to young girls.
- Landmark VenturescoreSocial Innovation Summit, a project of Landmark Ventures, puts award-winning social innovators on stage to present to Fortune 500 executives and philanthropists. Event held June 3-4, 2025 at Hyatt Regency San Francisco.
- iHeart RadiocoreMental Wealth Alliance, inspired by Charlamagne The God, in conjunction with iHeart Radio, presented the Mental Wealth EXPO - a day of mental health and healing education in honor of World Mental Health Day. Held at Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
- Valor StationcoreGiving Fore Good 2026 event proceeds benefited The Giving Back Fund and Valor Station, supporting PTSD and trauma care for veterans and first responders.
- Tribe of Nova FoundationminorHosted 130 memorial events for October 7th massacre with 250,000 attendees and 2,800 survivors attending at least one event in the past six months.
- On The Map FoundationminorIn 2024, launched Colleyville documentary featuring never-before-seen footage of 11-hour hostage standoff at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.
- MCertcoreMCert Convening held March 19-20, 2026 bringing together System Enablers to create non-partisan clarity and Systemic Trust needed for digital mental health support ecosystem.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Giving Back Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Vanguard Charitable: National donor-advised fund sponsor offering pooled investment and grantmaking infrastructure, an established incumbent in the same pooled philanthropic services category as GBF.
- Schwab Charitable: Major donor-advised fund sponsor backed by Schwab with national brand recognition and integrated investment platform, a broader incumbent alternative to GBF's fiscal sponsorship.
- Fidelity Charitable: Largest U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor offering immediate tax-deductible giving and full administrative support; competes with GBF for HNW and celebrity donors wanting lower-friction giving vehicles.
Emerging players
- Changing Our World: Philanthropy consulting firm that advises corporations, athletes, and high-profile individuals on charitable giving strategy and program design, directly comparable to GBF's celebrity/athlete focus and consulting service line.
- Borealis Philanthropy: Fiscal sponsor focused on movement-building and racial-equity grantmaking, illustrating a niche, emerging peer in fiscal sponsorship that overlaps with GBF on administrative infrastructure and pooled models.
Direct peers
- Foundation Source: Provides outsourced administration, compliance, and back-office services for private foundations, closely mirroring GBF's Administration & Management offering for individual and family foundations.
- National Philanthropic Trust: Large U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor and philanthropic services provider that offers immediate tax-deductible giving vehicles and administrative infrastructure, directly overlapping GBF's fiscal sponsorship and managed services model.
- Amalgamated Foundation: Provides fiscal sponsorship and philanthropic services to individuals, nonprofits, and companies seeking turnkey charitable infrastructure, a similar pooled-services model to GBF.
- Arabella Advisors: Philanthropy advisory and managed services firm that helps HNW donors, foundations, and impact investors design and administer giving strategies, overlapping GBF's consulting and design/build offering.
- Tides Foundation: Large nonprofit fiscal sponsor that provides 501(c)(3) status and administrative infrastructure to projects and donor-advised initiatives, competing for the same fiscal sponsorship and pooled-services value proposition.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Giving Back Fund social profiles
Digital presenceThe Giving Back Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Giving Back Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Giving Back Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Giving Back Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Giving Back Fund
What does The Giving Back Fund do?
The Giving Back Fund (GBF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides fiscal sponsorship, administrative, financial, and management services to individual foundations, sponsored projects, and nonprofit initiatives. It operates as a flexible, cost-effective vehicle for establishing charitable foundations under a community foundation-style governance structure, granting immediate IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status through GBF's EIN while handling compliance, banking, accounting, donor tracking, payroll, and state registration across 41 states.
Is The Giving Back Fund a public or private company?
The Giving Back Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Giving Back Fund founded?
The Giving Back Fund was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Giving Back Fund based?
The Giving Back Fund is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Giving Back Fund make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Administrative and Management Services are the primary driver. The others are fiscal Sponsorship Services.
Who are The Giving Back Fund's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Vanguard Charitable, Schwab Charitable and Fidelity Charitable. Emerging players are Changing Our World and Borealis Philanthropy. Direct peers are Foundation Source, National Philanthropic Trust, Amalgamated Foundation, Arabella Advisors and Tides Foundation.
Does The Giving Back Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Giving Back Fund.
What industry is The Giving Back Fund in?
The Giving Back Fund's product category is Fiscal Sponsorship and Philanthropy Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAC, Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAF, Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors. Its NAICS code is 813211.