This policy describes LAcon V’s criteria and process for accepting sponsorships. We are aware of our obligation to select sponsors who are aligned with our vision and acceptable to our community. While few if any sponsors will be completely immune to criticism, we are committed to a sponsor review process and criteria that will protect the reputation of our convention, our members, and our participants.
Our Criteria
Our criteria for considering sponsorship opportunities are as follows. It is impossible to be exhaustive in defining which offers we would decline, but we have indicated key groups where possible.
We will not accept any sponsorships where doing so would violate our Code of Conduct. This includes a ban on accepting sponsorships from companies or organizations that promote public policies that would violate our Code of Conduct.
We will assess potential sponsors against Environmental, Societal and Governance (ESG) principles as are commonly used to filter ethical investments and choose to decline sponsorships based on this analysis.
Without limitation of the foregoing, we will not accept sponsorships from companies that are primarily in the following businesses: tobacco, firearms, military weapons, gambling, and fossil fuels. We may consider accepting offers of sponsorship from companies with separate affiliates that are primarily in these businesses.
We will not accept sponsorships from political committees or other organizations that are operated primarily to influence elections for public office.
We may choose to decline sponsorships not otherwise covered by the criteria above.
Sponsorships Available
We are happy to accept sponsorships in the form of financial support or in-kind contributions of goods or services the convention would find useful. Sponsors may support the convention as a whole or particular convention events and activities, such as:
- focused program tracks
- featured speakers
- special exhibits or displays
- the art show
- the Worldcon Masquerade or other cosplay programming
- special performances
- receptions or streaming costs associated with the Hugo Awards Ceremony
However, we will not accept sponsors for the Hugo Awards themselves or the ceremony to announce them.
We are particularly interested in sponsorship of efforts to make the Worldcon more widely accessible, including:
- subsidized memberships or travel and lodging for people from under-represented groups
- accessibility measures such as CART (real time speech-to-text)
- subsidized childcare services
- special program items highlighting the diversity of the field
- streaming of selected events or program items for people unable to attend in person
- support for the internet connectivity necessary to let our members and guests share their Worldcon experience with followers everywhere
A schedule of sponsorship levels that include information about acknowledgments and other benefits offered to sponsors at different levels of sponsorship will be provided as part of our sponsorship packet.
Anyone who would like more information on sponsorship opportunities can contact us. We are ready, willing, and able to create a custom sponsorship or partnership opportunity.
Our Process
All sponsorship opportunities, of any value, will be tested against the criteria described in this policy.
Proposed sponsorships with a value of over $4,000 will be reviewed by our Division Head group. Sponsorships with a lesser value will be reviewed by our Sponsorship Team. Potential sponsors will be promptly notified of our decision on accepting their offered sponsorship.
In the sole discretion of LAcon V, sponsorships may be cancelled and funds or in-kind contributions returned in the event information comes to light after their selection which would have caused us to decline the sponsorship.
This policy is subject to change without notice at the sole discretion of LAcon V.
