Sponsorship policy

Sponsorship generally involves the payment of fees for the right to be associated with an activity. Council departments can use sponsorship in two ways:

• The sourcing of sponsorship to offset the cost of Council events, campaigns, and initiatives.
• The Council sponsoring materials, events, or initiatives run by external parties.

Sponsorship at Buckinghamshire Council usually involves the paying of money by a business to the Council in order to support an event, activity, or initiative or by providing products or services. Sponsorship may also include the giving of services or goods for the same in return (in-kind). Sponsorship is not philanthropic and should be mutually beneficial. A sponsor will expect to receive a reciprocal benefit beyond a modest acknowledgement.

This policy does not apply to the following.

A donation is a gift for which no direct benefit is sought. A donation may take various forms including cash, services or goods. A donor’s name or list of donors may be on display or included in publicity if the Council chooses to do so by way of thanks. It must be made clear to the donor that any decision to display or include the donor’s name is at the sole discretion of the Council. Donations are not subject to VAT.

A grant is cash given to an individual or an organisation for a specific purpose. There is an obligation to fulfil any criteria the funding body may place upon the grant i.e., to ensure the project that is funded satisfies specific aims and objectives and proceeds as outlined during the grant application process.

Advertising can be defined as a form of paid communication used to raise awareness, encourage, or persuade an audience – viewers, readers, or listeners or a specific group of people – to do or believe something.