;with cte as (
SELECT * 
FROM (
SELECT sponsor, fundtype, amount
from TIP_ApprovedFunding f
inner join TIP_Projects p on p.TipID = f.TipID
where p.ApprovedStatus = 'Active' 
)

OK, if this is the declaration of the CTE, you're missing a right parenthesis... Try this instead???

;with cte as (
SELECT sponsor, fundtype, amount
from TIP_ApprovedFunding f
inner join TIP_Projects p on p.TipID = f.TipID
where p.ApprovedStatus = 'Active' 
)