Sponsorships

At the City of University Place, we are always looking for ways to bring our community closer together and create opportunities for people to connect and thrive. One of the ways we do this is by offering support for events hosted by third parties that align with our values and goals. Through City sponsorships, we hope to help elevate community-driven events and make them accessible to all.

In 2024, the City Council set forth policies governing sponsorship of third-party events. The following comes from those policies.

To read the full details and gain a deeper understanding of the City's policies on donations and event sponsorships, please visit UPMC Section 4.42. 

City Sponsorship Benefits

When the City of University Place sponsors an event hosted by a third party, the event may receive the following benefits:

  • Facility Usage: The City may offer use of a City facility free of charge or at a reduced cost.
  • Promotion & Publicity: Events may receive promotion and publicity through the City’s platforms.
  • Special Events Permit: A special events permit may be issued at no or a reduced charge.
  • Financial Contributions: The City will not make direct financial contributions unless the event is demonstrably beneficial to the community as a whole, and in compliance with applicable law.

Criteria for Co-Sponsorship:

To be considered for City sponsorship, third-party events must meet specific criteria:

  • The event should align with the City’s economic, social, or recreational goals.
  • The event must be free and open to the public.
  • The event should foster community pride and involvement.
  • The event must not have religious or political purposes.
  • The event’s sponsorship must not present any conflict of interest or perception issues that could undermine public confidence in the City.
  • The event must demonstrate a clear benefit to the City and its residents.

Sponsorship Process

To apply for City sponsorship, an outside group must submit an application. In order to assure that the sponsorship application can meaningfully be reviewed, please submit it no less than 90 days before your event. The sponsorship agreement will be in writing and subject to City Council approval. Key components of the agreement include compliance with City policies, acknowledgment of the City as a co-sponsor, and provisions for insurance, cleanup, and other logistics if City facilities are used.

To get the ball rolling, for further information, or if you are interested in seeking third-party sponsorship for your event, please contact Marian Holloway at mholloway@cityofup.com. 

We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make University Place even better!