It’s the work you don’t see, but every movement needs.
It’s not an easy or catchy story to tell – the story of the fiscal sponsor, the intermediary, the behind-the-scenes arterial highways and bus stops that scaffold and support the tactile and tangible and transformative work of the people on the frontlines fighting and organizing for change.
We are the largest social justice intermediary in the South, but what’s our story? Who are the characters behind the scenes? And, what in the world do we do all day?
It’s a cast full of activists, nerds, experts, and passionate folk with skills in finance, communications, space holding, coordination, hosting, facilitation, human resources, data collection and analysis, design, website and tech support, grant writing and reporting, record keeping and compliance, checks, tax acknowledgement letters, contracts, lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Members of the Southern Vision Alliance alliance staff, online and in-person, after a staff meeting in March 2026. Credit: Bridgette Burge
The list doesn’t end and neither do the creative ways in which this team shows up to meet the demands of the day.
As a grassroots intermediary organization, Southern Vision Alliance helps community-led groups access the resources, infrastructure, and support they need to focus on their mission and deepen their impact. We serve as both a fiscal sponsor and a movement-building partner, helping grassroots organizations not only sustain their work, but strengthen their ability to create lasting change. We host more than forty sponsored projects in our ecosystem and, I’ll say it again, are the largest social justice intermediary organization in the South.
But wait! We also have internal programs like the People’s Solidarity Hub, the Queer Mobilization Fund, Block & Build Rapid Response Fund, and a new and growing Power Building Department that works in deep partnership with Blueprint NC to build collective people’s power across our Southern movement ecosystem, to come together, to strategize, to learn, to dream, to co-create and to make real changes that improve material conditions in our communities.
Our work often happens behind the scenes. We manage grants, process donations, provide financial oversight, support compliance and reporting, offer coaching and technical assistance, and help organizations navigate the operational challenges that come with growth. At the same time, we work to build stronger movements by fostering connections among organizations, supporting leadership development, creating opportunities for collaboration, and helping grassroots leaders access the resources they need to advance their vision.
In short, we help grassroots organizations spend more time organizing, advocating, and serving their communities—and less time navigating administrative hurdles. We believe that when organizations have strong infrastructure and strong relationships, they are better equipped to build collective power and achieve meaningful change.
But, why would a grassroots organization choose to be fiscally sponsored by someone like us?
A few of our sponsored projects shared their reasons:
“At Aflorar Herb Collective it has been so useful to have SVA fiscally sponsor us because they care for us like one of their own. They support our internal capacity on many levels and the human resources and communications needs have been so helpful. In addition, the staff support goes way beyond what I have experienced with other fiscal sponsors. They are responsive, supportive, and creative to help find solutions to issues that come up as we navigate hardships such as surviving and thriving during Hurricane Helene and responding to the community over the past three years. Having the infrastructure and people’s support has allowed us to grow and feel held through the process of growth while providing community care and herbal mutual aid to folks across the US.” – Dr. Sarah Nuñez, Aflorar Herb Collective
“If you’re an organization that’s serious about building power or about doing the work that you care about, having an operation support changes everything. And fiscal sponsorship is really an opportunity to have additional operations support.” – Kenni Cummings, South Carolina Tenants Union
“VOTE SoAR chose fiscal sponsorship with SVA to get connected to like-minded, culturally competent relationships in the deep south. The support has helped remove some administrative strains start-up mission-oriented organizations have. Fiscal sponsorship has allowed VOTE SoAR to pursue funding opportunities and follow accounting standards. SVA’s support has gone further because of assigned project liaisons. The liaisons offer thought partnership, facilitate communications with other departments and connect us to external resources.” – Sylvia C. Brown, VOTE SoAR
While our name may not always be on the front lines of a campaign or community project, we are proud to stand alongside the organizations and leaders creating a more just South. By strengthening grassroots organizations and investing in the movements they power, we help lay the foundation for lasting social change.
So what do we do all day? This is the first in a summer series called “A Day In The Life At The Southern Vision Alliance,” where we’ll profile staff from each of our departments to tell you the nuts and bolts, the bread and butter, the roses and the thorns of their labor at SVA.
Our team is small
but mighty and we are quite the motley crew. We’re excited to take you on this journey of a day in the life of an SVA staffer.
You can see the broad overview of our internal structure and departments below, and in subsequent blog posts you’ll learn more about each department’s specific work and get to know some of our staff.
SVA’s Organizational Structure
Stay tuned!
