In the art world, a fiscal agent is an non-profit organization which assumes financial liability for a project by an individual. Philanthropic entities are bound by their own peculiar set of tax laws which sometimes require them to only give money to non-profit organizations.

When an individual artist receives a grant from a philanthropic entity which usually only gives money to organizations, the money is received by the organization or fiscal conduit. The organization then cuts a check to the individual and monitors how that money is spent. Sometimes, the organizations will disperse the grant money after specific bench marks have been reached by the individual.

Sometimes, a university will serve as a fiscal agent for a key researcher, or faculty member.