Funds received by a real estate salesperson must be immediately delivered to the salesperson's _____.

Funds received by a real estate salesperson must be immediately delivered to the salesperson's sponsoring broker because it is the broker who is responsible for handling all financial transactions related to their agents. This includes the proper accounting and management of trust funds or earnest money deposits received for real estate transactions. The broker is legally obligated to ensure that all funds are managed in compliance with state regulations, which generally require that funds be deposited into a trust account and properly documented. This process helps to protect both the clients' funds and the integrity of the brokerage operation.

The other options represent actions or recipients that do not align with the legal and operational requirements established for real estate transactions. For instance, delivering funds to the client, an escrow account, or directly to the brokerage firm does not fulfill the requirement of immediate accountability to the broker, who oversees compliance with licensing and ethical standards in real estate transactions.