Corporate Participation Policy

1. Background

SF Pride is committed, as far as possible and as long as possible, to preserving free admittance to the San Francisco Pride Celebration.

In pursuit of this fundamental goal and the desire to offer a quality event and the best standard of service to the community, it is recognized that the level of resources required invites a prudent and diverse funding base.

SF Pride also recognizes its unique position to act as a positive nexus for promoting the involvement of corporations at the leading edge of good corporate relations in respect of the LGBTQ+ community.

2. General

SF Pride welcomes the support of corporations or entities in alignment with our mission who wish to support the San Francisco Pride event by underwriting the costs and expenses of production and promotion.

SF Pride seeks partnership with corporate entities that align with the mission of the organization and amplify our efforts to seek community liberation at the intersection of all identities within our community.

However, SF Pride does not welcome the participation of corporations or entities who have demonstrated a lack of support for our community, or those groups who have taken an unrepentant stand against our community. In addition, SF Pride does not accept sponsorship from specific industries.

3. Authority

This policy is in all respects subordinate to the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the corporation.

4. Specific Industries, Corporations, and Situations

A. General

The industries, corporations, and groups which SF Pride shall not deem appropriate for partnership will be reviewed on an annual basis in August of each year.

The phrase “corporate partnership” shall include:

  1. Sponsorship, marketing, and/or promotion of or in connection with SF Pride organized events;
  2. Sponsorship, marketing, and/or promotion of or in connection with events not organized by SF Pride but where SF Pride shall be a beneficiary, host, endorser, or have some other role associating SF Pride with the corporate partners assisting that event;
  3. Direct or indirect donations; and
  4. Sponsorship, marketing, and/or promotion of or in connection with events not organized by SF Pride but where SF Pride shall be a participant.

SF Pride shall not enter into corporate partnerships with the industries, corporations, and groups listed below.

B. Tobacco

SF Pride shall not enter into corporate partnerships with the tobacco industry and/or tobacco products.

C. Adolph Coors Brewing Company

SF Pride applauds the many advances made for LGBT employee rights within the Adolph Coors Brewing Company, but regrets the continued funding by the Coors Family and the Castle Rock Foundation of causes which are antithetic to SF Pride’s mission. While the Castle Rock/Coors empire continues to support causes antithetic to SF Pride’s mission, a fundamental conflict applies and SF Pride does not deem the Adolph Coors Brewing Company to be appropriate for corporate partnership.

D. Exxon-Mobil

The decision by Exxon-Mobil to deny its employees domestic partnership benefits which they had previously been entitled to is antithetic to SF Pride’s mission. SF Pride does not deem Exxon-Mobil appropriate for corporate partnership.

E. Hostile Media

SF Pride does not deem media hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, its issues, SF Pride, or Pride events in general appropriate for corporate partnership. SF Pride shall deem media “hostile” if, over a period of time, there is a pattern in editorial coverage of an unduly negative and unbalanced viewpoint, or if a single editorial evokes overwhelming outrage within the community. The decision rests with the Executive Committee in the first instance, but may be reviewed and modified by the Board as a whole.

F. Military

  1. SF Pride applauds the removal of the US Armed Forces “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. SF Pride emphatically supports and honors members of our community who are now serving or have served in the US Armed Services. Nevertheless, because of ongoing institutional practices regarding: a. Discrimination against Transgender people; b. The use of intentionally misleading advertising specifically targeting economically disadvantaged youth; and c. The danger of sexual assault, rape, and harassment faced by members of the armed services;
  2. The SF LGBT Pride Committee does not deem Armed Services recruiters an appropriate entity for participation in our Vendor or Corporate sponsorship programs.

5. Minimum Requirements

At a minimum, all corporate sponsors of SF Pride shall:

A. Endorse the mission of SF Pride. B. Include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in their policies of non-discrimination. C. Not discriminate in the provision of benefits between employees with domestic partners and employees with spouses, and/or between the domestic partners and spouses of employees.

6. Administration

A. The Executive Director shall negotiate and agree to all corporate sponsorships within an agreed framework determined by the Board and informed by the Corporate Partnerships Committee each August. No agency or third party may negotiate sponsorship on behalf of SF Pride except as expressly provided for elsewhere in this section. B. As soon as practicable after the start of the fiscal year, the Executive Director shall devise standard sponsorship and media partner packages and circulate these to the Board and staff for comment. Any substantial departure from these packages shall be agreed to with the Board President prior to presentation to prospective sponsors and documented in the meeting minutes. C. The Executive Director shall determine the consideration required of the sponsor and negotiate the same. D. All sponsorships shall be evidenced by an agreement direct with the sponsor signed by the sponsor, Executive Director, and Board President. Copies shall be circulated to the Executive Committee and appropriate staff. E. Pass-through rights may be granted to media partners (such as a booth at the event) as established in the standard media partner packages. F. All sponsorship consideration shall be paid to SF Pride in advance of the event. G. All sponsorship agreements shall include a clause guaranteeing the artistic integrity of the event, making it clear that sponsors have no influence over programming. H. No sponsor or employee of a sponsor may serve as a director of the corporation without first signing an agreement to recuse themselves from influencing decisions or participating in conflict of interest discussions. I. No one shall receive any payments or inducements from sponsors, and any gifts received must be disclosed to the Executive Director and Board President. J. Venue Managers are independent producers who operate our stages and venues and may, with prior approval of the Executive Director, enter into sub-sponsorships relative to their venue. K. Any sponsorship including a presence at an event venue shall be discussed with the relevant venue manager prior to agreement.

7. Conclusion

Subject to the above, SF Pride shall adopt an open-door policy to corporate participation, seeking to balance this with community-based programs that encourage partnership between community and corporations.

Approved by the Board: September 7, 1999
Amended: February 5, 2002
Amended: August 6, 2002
Amended: February 4, 2014

San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee, Inc.

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