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Sponsorship

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Apply for sponsorship from Council for your event or project. Check your eligibility and view the assessment criteria.

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What is sponsorship?

Sponsorship is financial or in-kind support for initiatives that will deliver benefits to both the community and to Council. 

Council sponsorship can help community and business groups bring their proposals to life, create opportunities for our residents and visitors, and help Council make a difference in the community.

Sponsorship offers Council and the sponsored organisation an exchange of benefits for events or initiatives that help make Brisbane a great place to live, work and do business.

Eligibility 

We consider applications that:

  • help achieve the Brisbane Vision
  • provide economic benefit to the city
  • have widespread community appeal 
  • promote Brisbane as a vibrant, progressive city
  • support activities that are free or low-cost to attend 
  • commit to keeping Brisbane clean, green and sustainable
  • support organisations or groups that address issues affecting the community.

Exclusions 

We avoid sponsorships that:

  • conflict with legislation
  • discriminate in any way 
  • support or oppose political organisations
  • present health, safety or environmental hazards 
  • don't align with our corporate objectives
  • support or are held by trade unions
  • promote gambling, smoking, consumption of alcohol or other addictive substances
  • support religious organisations (this doesn’t include charities run by religious groups)
  • are primarily held outside of the Brisbane City Council Local Government Area, or where majority of the audience is external to the city.

 

Sponsorships are not available for:  

  • fundraising (including for third parties, e.g. team sponsorship to participate in a charity fundraising event)
  • individuals, e.g. athletes participating in sporting championships, artists taking part in cultural competitions or students undertaking academic endeavours
  • sporting teams participating in sporting championships (consideration will be given to organisations holding state, national or international events in Brisbane.)
  • funding auxiliary costs, such as accommodation or travel expenses, as the primary purpose
  • activities better suited to other funding options, such as grants
  • an activity that has already occurred or does not allow sufficient lead time.

Minimum application lead times

Sponsorships for festivals and cultural events requesting less than $1,000: at least one month before your event.

All other sponsorships: at least 3 months before your event or project commencement date.

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Note

Sponsorship funding is subject to annual budgets and program plans. We recommend applying as early as possible before your planned event or initiative. Council will respond to your application after careful review of the application.

Check your eligibility and apply 

Use our sponsorship pre-application tool to check your eligibility. 

If you’re eligible, you’ll be prompted to apply through our online form. The form includes further application information. 

You can exit and save the form at any time. 

Sponsorship pre-application tool

Use this sponsorship pre-application tool to check eligibility and to apply. 

For information on Council wards, see Councillors and wards.

Festival or cultural event

A festival or cultural event is a public celebration and/or a gathering in the community.

It typically celebrates:

  • an artform (visual, performing, music, etc.)
  • an identity (cultural background, sexuality or social group)
  • a precinct (focus is on an area or location).

The occasion encourages audience participation, experience and creativity. It also builds community spirit, belonging, pride and a sense of place. 

Community project, exhibition or service

Community projects, exhibitions and services are initiatives designed to create stronger and more connected communities.

They include projects and events that address community interest, needs and challenges, while celebrating all that makes Brisbane a liveable, inclusive, friendly, safe and accessible city.

Active lifestyle

Active lifestyle projects and events include activities with an active and healthy focus, such as fun runs and cycling events.

Environmental event or project

Environmental events and projects are initiatives with a sustainability and/or environmental focus.

Festival or cultural event

 

A festival or cultural event is a public celebration and/or a gathering in the community.

It typically celebrates:

  • an artform (visual, performing, music, etc.)
  • an identity (cultural background, sexuality or social group)
  • a precinct (focus is on an area or location).

The occasion encourages audience participation, experience and creativity. It also builds community spirit, belonging, pride and a sense of place.

Helpful information

 

To find out if your initiative is relevant to Council programs and objectives, or aligns with Brisbane Vision 2031:

Your initiative may be more suited to the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust grants program.

Thank you for your interest in sponsorship from Brisbane City Council.

 

As you’ve identified that your charity has Deductible Gift Recipient status and is seeking funds to deliver a front-line service in Brisbane,  your initiative may be more suited to the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust grants program.

Your project may be eligible for the Lord Mayor's Community Fund.

Thank you for your interest in Council sponsorship.

 

Your project may be eligible for support from your local ward, via the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund, as the audience is primarily from a single Council ward.

You are eligible to apply for Council sponsorship.

You can apply for Festival and Cultural Event Sponsorship (less than $1,000). 

You are eligible to apply for Council sponsorship.

You can apply for Festival and Cultural Event Sponsorship ($1,001 to $10,000).

Unfortunately Council is not able to accept your application.

Our sponsorship guidelines specify that we do not provide sponsorship for projects/events that occur outside of the Brisbane city boundary, or where the primary audience is external to the city.

 

We wish you every success with your initiative.

You are eligible to apply for Council sponsorship.

You can apply for Council Sponsorship (Business and Industry).

You are eligible to apply for Council sponsorship.

Unfortunately Council is not able to accept your application.

Thank you for your interest in sponsorship from Brisbane City Council. Unfortunately Council is not able to accept your application as it does not meet our minimum assessment timeframes.

 

Council sets minimum timeframes between your planned activity date and when we receive your application, so that potential sponsorship benefits can be carefully assessed.

 

We wish you every success with your initiative.

Unfortunately, your event isn’t eligible for Council sponsorship.

We prioritise initiatives that are relevant to Council programs and objectives, and help achieve the themes in Brisbane Vision 2031.

Thank you for your interest. We wish you every success with your initiative.

Unfortunately Council is not able to accept your application.

Thank you for your interest in sponsorship from Brisbane City Council. Sponsorship support is not generally allocated for fundraising initiatives.  

We receive many sponsorship applications, and we are unable to meet all these requests.  

We wish you every success with your initiative.

Application assessment 

We assess your sponsorship application by considering the eligibility guidelines, proposed outcomes of the sponsorship, budgets and other corporate requirements at the time.

Sponsorship proposals take time to consider and the time we take to assess each one varies between applications. Thorough sponsorship assessment ensures sponsorships are planned for the benefit of both the sponsored organisation and the wider community.

Council receives many sponsorship applications. We carefully review and assess applications as they are submitted, however we are unable to sponsor every application.  

Your sponsorship request may be declined, or we may offer a lesser amount than requested based on assessment at the time of application. When made, these assessment decisions are considered final.  

If you’re successful

We will contact you to confirm the outcome and provide details of next steps for a sponsorship agreement with Council.  

Under the agreement, you will work with your nominated Council contact to action all agreed benefits, including:

After your event or initiative has been delivered, you must provide us with a sponsorship evaluation.

If you’re unsuccessful  

Unfortunately, we can’t sponsor every application we receive. If after careful consideration we can’t sponsor your event or project this time, we’ll let you know via email.

Sponsorship for local business precinct promotion

Our Local Business Precinct promotion funding supports the activation of suburban business hubs.

This type of sponsorship encourages business leaders, local businesses and trade groups to develop initiatives that draw communities and consumers into their precincts.

If you have an idea for a concept, email Council to discuss your proposal before submitting a sponsorship application.  

Frequently asked questions

If your event or initiative isn’t eligible for sponsorship, it may be suitable for another type of support. Sponsorship is just one of the ways Council backs community groups and local businesses.

Find out more about grants and funding opportunities by using Council's Funding Finder tool.

No. Council uses an online application management system to receive, assess and manage all requests for sponsorship. If your application isn’t submitted through the online system, we can’t assess your application.