Not really hypothetical question re:non-profit sponsorships.

[AngB]

So, let's say you are planning an event like a walk for something that is non-profit related to maternal/fetal health...like for example a walk for the March of Dimes/Preeclampsia foundation, something like that.

Do you think it's appropriate for a walk like that to be sponsored by a club/event promoter which has a heavy emphasis on clubbing stuff- their facebook and webpage are filled with scantily clad women and lots of drinking (rap music video type images). Other sponsors are stuff like a major hospital, an OB's office, etc.

They are willing to donate enough to have their names on the back of t-shirts (next to the ob's office, hospital names, babycenter, etc.) and banners at the walk.

Is any money a good thing in this type of situation, or should there be limits, and would something like this be outside the limits?

Trying to decide how big of a stink to make about this or if I'm just being too conservative/critical.

[Tondi G]

In an economic climate like this, I would think any 501c3 would accept money from any organization. It's a logo on a shirt or banner ... it's not adding pics of scantily clad women to the t-shirt. Good for them for being willing to support an organization that is far from their clientele.

[AngB]

In an economic climate like this, I would think any 501c3 would accept money from any organization. It's a logo on a shirt or banner ... it's not adding pics of scantily clad women to the t-shirt. Good for them for being willing to support an organization that is far from their clientele.

I should have added that in addition to the t-shirts/banner, they have linked them to the walk FB page and walk website. (If someone is curious about the business is for and clicks the link, the first image you see is a young woman in almost no clothes sitting on a pool table with her legs stretched out, holding a pool cue near her mouth.)

So is it okay to accept a sponsorship from a sex toy company? A strip club? A porn production company? (This company is not that extreme but some of the images are pretty close.) Is there no line to draw as long as they give money, even if it turns away other sponsors (it will lose at least one sponsor) and even participants?

[elektra]

There is a lot to consider obviously, but if you are the one selling the ads or sponsorships, you have to think about your own publication/group's image too. It is a factor.
However, I know I have seen Hooter's logos on T-shirts like that, and a quick google search turns up that they sponsor Make-A-Wish, Special Olympics among other things.
I would say a sex toy shop would be inappropriate, but a restaurant or bar with scantily clad waitresses would be acceptable.
I know as an advertiser, there are usually restrictions on what you can provide (ex. logo only; no image) which would cut back on most things inappropriate. If people want to visit the sponsor websites on their own, then that is up to them.

[Tondi G]

I wonder which sponsor is giving them more funding?

A club promoter is different than a strip club or a porn production company. I have a feeling based on your description that the images are like what one might find in a MAXIM magazine? Sure it might be a little trashy ... girl in a sexy pose with little clothing. Unfortunately in this country Sex Sells. The adult industry makes A LOT of money. Drugstore .com sells dildos, if they were a sponsor would you have a problem with it?

http://www.drugstore.com/search/search_results.asp?N=0&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=All&srchtree=1&Ntt=dildo&CSRFToken=AvzZLzLX%2BaE7RmcbWyJjcchoSpG3ERcn2iKNX7 n3nhg%3D

[California]

IMO it would depend on the mission and policies of the nonprofit. Some religious-based nonprofits (that serve anyone regardless of religious affiliation) would not accept such a sponsorship as it would violate ethics that are clearly spelled out in their policies.

If one of the nonprofit's focuses is fetal alcohol syndrome then that would seem strange to mix with a club that heavily promotes partying.

[AngB]

I wonder which sponsor is giving them more funding?


The sponsor they are losing-a tax office- gave them more last year ($1000), then the event promotion gave them ($500). We live in a pretty conservative area and the major area Catholic hospital that was a sponsor last year ($2000), is a potential loss as well.

No problem with drugstore.com and selling dildos. They sell a whole lot more than dildos including stuff relevant to maternal/fetal health like prenatal vitamins, blood pressure machines,etc. If someone visits their webpage they won't see Maxim-like images immediately and nothing else but those. (Maxim is a good description of them.) While I know this is different from a porn production company, vibrator manufacturer, etc., I think it's a really bad idea to have this company associated with the walk. Even Hooters or similar companies, they are selling food, at least. Something selling partying/drinking/clubbing for something that is supposed to be a family event just strikes me as wrong, especially if it's losing us other sponsors for a relatively small donation.

I am going to let it go, but step down from my volunteer role and association with it. (There are other issues besides this, and the way this was handled-without any input whatsoever from anyone else coordinating the event- is part of the problem.) This has just been the icing on the cake of a bunch of other stuff.

[kdeunc]

I have worked with several nonprofits for years focused on children's health issues. The organizations have turned down fundraiser suggestions from a couple of people because of the association. One group wanted to basically do a "pub crawl" (under the guise of something else but really it would be potentially include a lot of drinking) for an abuse organization. While I appreciate the gesture, it just doesn't fit the mission.

I think that organizations have to be careful about who we choose to solicit money from based on our mission. I know that times are tight but you have to decide if the $500 is worth losing a dedicated volunteer (absolutely not in my book) or other current or potential sponsors.

[almostmom]

As a non-profit fundraiser, I think it depends on the organization. There are no rules that cover all non-profits - they must decide for themselves what they are comfortable with and what image they are presenting, and what funds they need. It can be tricky, and there are pressures from so many sides and so many people to consider who want to be involved.

That said, it sounds like this offended you. I would let them know how you feel (before you head out the door) so they don't make the same mistake next year (or if they do, at least they know they are risking losing qualified and dedicated volunteers). I think they would want to know.

[AngB]

That said, it sounds like this offended you. I would let them know how you feel (before you head out the door) so they don't make the same mistake next year (or if they do, at least they know they are risking losing qualified and dedicated volunteers). I think they would want to know.

It's not so much that it's offended me as much as I think it's a really bad idea and I don't really want to walk around with this dumb company's logo on my shirt or have it associated with this foundation. While the organization they are raising money for is national, each of the walks is run by local volunteers, there are many being put on around the country. I actually didn't pay much attention to the new sponsor -announced with a link on the walk's facebook page- until others brought it up to me as a concern and suggested I check out the sponsor's webpage. (I am supposed to be one of the co-coordinators but 2 of the people we are supposed to be working with have pretty much taken over.) The national chapter probably has no idea that this company is a sponsor or what the company is, they may not care, or they might. The shirts have not been printed yet. I was leaning towards just staying out of it but I do think I will email the person in charge of the walk coordinators so she can at least see it and decide if they want to be associated with it or not. (I am way past done working with them so I don't really care if it makes anyone mad.)

[MamaMolly]

I should have added that in addition to the t-shirts/banner, they have linked them to the walk FB page and walk website. (If someone is curious about the business is for and clicks the link, the first image you see is a young woman in almost no clothes sitting on a pool table with her legs stretched out, holding a pool cue near her mouth.)

I'll be totally honest, this would bother me. Maybe I'm a fuddy-duddy but I would be wondering what a business like that would be sponsoring a Walk for babies. Maybe the owner of the business had a child/family member/sibling with that issue? Still, I would question it.

[wendibird22]

Hmm...I'm not sure which side I land on this. I think it's complex. I guess so long as the images used on public marketing materials (tshirts, handouts, etc) were appropriate, then I would be ok with it. I wouldn't want to be in the position of choosing what to censor. If you club, drink, party, whatever, can you also not be charitable? Would it be ok for Walmart to be on the tshirt when there's a lot of issues people have with fair labor practices and discrimination? I think it becomes a slippery slope.

I also think there is potential (playing devil's advocate here) that this entertainment company could draw in a clientele that could benefit from being educated about the cause. I'm thinking specifically March of Dimes which does a lot to educate about prenatal care as a preventive for prematurity. Could the clubbing type audience benefit from this awareness and would this company being a sponsor of this charity walk provide a small avenue for raising this awareness? IDK.

If I participate or my family participates and I don't agree with the sponsorship I don't have to wear the free tshirt or visit their website.

ETA: I do think it is appropriate to share concerns/feedback with coplanners that have been raised to you by others. Informed decision making is important.

[wellyes]

My suggestion, as someone who has run a few fundraisers, is that if you are going to suggest that the nonprofit refuse a donation from a local business, then you find a suitable ($$$) replacement.

My personal feeling..... I know biker organizations, who do not seek out a wholesome image, do a whole lot of fundraising for causes. And there is nothing negative about that. Who the heck am I to say someone is or is not good enough to give money to a cause?

[California]

The other way to look at this is that the company isn't simply making a donation- they are in a sense buying advertising space at this event. They are buying the promotion of their business through the shirts, flyers, facebook page, etc.. They also are getting the positive publicity of associating themselves with this nonprofit and the other major donors. If its a large community event that's cheap advertising! The question for the nonprofit is- do we want to promote this business, and connect it to our name and the names of our other sponsors? That's what it sounds like the OP is concerned about.

Definitely sounds like something you should bring to the nonprofit rep's attention. If its a national organization they probably have some sort of guidelines that will help determine if this is OK or not.