The City of West Hollywood has embraced events that support the unique character and diversity of the City. The City has a longstanding history of co-sponsoring community events that provide a public benefit to people who live, work, and spend time in the City.

A co-sponsored event or program is one in which the event organizer – usually a community organization or nonprofit – is responsible for programming, advertising, and producing the event, including all associated costs. For approved events or programs, the City partners with the event organizer to provide direct and/or in-kind support in the form of fee waivers, help with promotion, use of the City’s logo, or in some cases monetary support.

Step 1 - Read the City Policy to Ensure Eligibility.

Before applying, we strongly recommend reading the City of West Hollywood's full policy on co-sponsored events which is accessible at the link above. To ensure your event is eligible for consideration, the following criteria must be met:

Eligible Event Organizers: 
The Event Organizer must be one of the following:
• A nonprofit organization
• A West Hollywood Neighborhood Watch Association
• A Business located in the City of West Hollywood with an active business license, or business that serves the West Hollywood community
• A governmental organization

Authorization to Operate: The event organizer/organization must be authorized to do business in the State of California.

Connection to West Hollywood: The event must serve or have demonstrated ties to the West Hollywood community.

Alignment with City Goals: Events must align with the City's core values, mission, and strategic priorities.
Community Benefit: The event or program must clearly demonstrate a benefit to the West Hollywood community.

Location Requirements: The community event/program must take place within the City of West Hollywood or immediately adjacent (within 5 blocks of the border of West Hollywood).  

Proven Track Record: The event organizer must demonstrate the capability to deliver high-quality events and/or programming.

Compliance with Post-Event Documentation: Timely completion of any post-event documentation from prior co-sponsorships is mandatory.

Timely Submission: The application must be submitted at least 120 days prior to the event.

Additional Exclusions:

Arts and Cultural Programs: If your event focuses on arts or cultural programming, please apply for grant funding through the City’s Arts Division. For additional details, visit www.weho.org/arts.

Existing City Funding: If your event or program is already receiving funding from another City department or division, it is not eligible for co-sponsorship.

Limit on Co-Sponsorships: Each event organizer may receive one co-sponsorship per fiscal year, unless a waiver is granted by the City Council.

Ineligibility of Major Events: Major events, as defined in the City’s Municipal Code, do not qualify co-sponsorship under this policy. 

Step 2 - Apply.

Once you've determined that your organization meets the City's eligibility criteria and you wish to apply for City co-sponsorship, please fill out the event co-sponsorship application form by clicking here. As noted above and per the City's policy on co-sponsored events, applications must be received no later than 120 days before the event day. 

Step 3 - Initial Staff Review.

After submitting your application, City staff may reach out to the event organizer for additional details about the organization or proposed event. Staff will review the application based on the eligibility requirements listed above, along with an evaluation of City resources such as staffing, venue space, funding availability, and other calendared events or programs.

Monetary Support Requests:
Event organizers may request monetary support as part of their co-sponsorship, but not all co-sponsorships will receive financial assistance. The City’s co-sponsorship program is not intended to fund the entirety of an event or program. Monetary support is determined based on factors such as the size and scope of the event, its overall budget, and the organizer’s history of hosting similar events. The City will also review the budget and attendance numbers from previous events, if applicable.

Funding Tiers:
During the review process, for requests seeking financial support, City staff and the event organizer will discuss the proposed event or program to determine the appropriate funding tier. Funding tiers are categorized as follows:

Tier 1: Up to $2,500 Maximum Funding Provided
For small-scale community events with up to 150 attendees, typically held in a City facility. Examples include film screenings, panel discussions, or small workshops.

Tier 2: Up to $5,000 Maximum Funding Provided
For small to medium-scale events with 151-499 attendees. These events often involve more complex programming. Examples include community fairs or cultural celebrations.

Tier 3: Up to $10,000 Maximum Funding Provided
For medium-scale events with over 500 attendees, such as multi-day events or events with extensive programming and multiple vendors.

Please note that even if your event passes the initial review, the City will consider these factors to determine if and how much financial support is appropriate.

Step 4 - Approvals.

Applicants that move forward following the screening process for eligibility and resource availability will be required to enter into an agreement between the applicant and the City to solidify the terms of the co-sponsorship. Once this agreement is signed by the event organizer and any/all required insurance policies are procured by the event organizer, staff will prepare a City Council item to be placed on a future City Council meeting agenda for approval. 

Insurance Requirements

The review of insurance policies is handled by the City's Risk staff. Click here for a link to the baseline requirements in most City contracts. These requirements are meant to give you a general idea of the insurance needed for a co-sponsored event but may be subject to change. Each event is ultimately reviewed on a case-by-case basis and is up to Risk staff to ultimately determine what is required for each event.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding a co-sponsorship or the co-sponsorship process, please contact Jennifer Del Toro, Community and Legislative Affairs Supervisor via email at jdeltoro@weho.org.