Visit Estes Park Sponsorship Program.

Events and projects should align with Visit Estes Park's mission, values, destination stewardship goals, and strategic priorities and demonstrate a commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming experience for visitors and the Estes Valley community.

Any business, nonprofit, government or other community organization is eligible to apply.

Applicants should select the sponsorship tier that best reflects their funding request and the scope and impact of their event or project.

Applications are reviewed based on alignment with Visit Estes Park's five strategic priorities:

• Advance Year-Round Prosperity
• Strengthen shoulder-season, winter programming
• Preserve the Valley’s Distinctive Character
• Inclusive and diverse arts and cultural offerings
• Foster Community Partnerships

Applicants should demonstrate how their event or project advances these priorities and creates positive economic, environmental, cultural, or community benefits.

Tier 1 — Up to $20,000

Designed for events and projects incorporating practical sustainability and stewardship efforts appropriate to their size and scope.

Tier 2 — $20,000 - $100,000

Applicants must demonstrate additional strategies that advance destination stewardship and generate positive local economic and community benefits.

Tier 3 — Over $100,000

Reserved for limited, larger strategic investments that demonstrate significant destination impact, community benefit, stewardship, and measurable return on VEP's investment.

VEP follows a tiered approval process based on the total sponsorship amount:

• Tier 1 - Up to $20,000: Reviewed and approved by VEP staff.
• Tier 2 - $20,000 - $100,000: Reviewed by VEP staff and approved by the CEO.
• Tier 3 - Over $100,000: Reviewed with the CEO, with final approval by the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors.

Tier 3 applicants should meet the expectations of Tiers 1 and 2 while demonstrating a significantly broader impact to the Estes Valley community.

Applicants should demonstrate through a prepared business plan and/or presentation how the event or project:

• Advances VEP's strategic priorities.
• Generates meaningful economic activity.
• Strengthens the destination during priority or need periods.
• Creates significant opportunities for local businesses and community partnerships.
• Incorporates comprehensive accessibility, sustainability, and stewardship practices.
• Applicants considering Tier 3 level of support are expected to demonstrate a minimum of five stewardship and local economic or community benefit strategies.
• Provides measurable outcomes and a clear reporting plan.

Organizations considering a Tier 3 request must complete the official sponsorship application and submit an event or project business plan.

Requests over $100,000 are reviewed with VEP's CEO before being presented to the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors for final approval.

A limited number of Tier 3 investments will be considered.

For questions, please contact Dana@VisitEstesPark.com.

Applications are accepted annually from December 1 through January 15.

All sponsorship requests, regardless of tier, must be submitted through VEP's official application.

VEP staff will communicate with applicants regarding the status of their applications during the review process.

Approved applicants must:

• Complete the official VEP sponsorship application (all tiers)
• Submit a completed W-9 form
• Submit an ACH form or request a mailed check
• Submit their event to the VEP Events Calendar, if applicable
• Sign a Visit Estes Park Sponsorship Agreement

Additional documentation may be required based on the sponsorship tier and project scope.

Destination stewardship means considering how an event or project can create positive benefits for visitors, residents, local businesses, the community, and the natural environment.

Strategies should be appropriate to the size and nature of the event, and VEP sponsorship funds may be used to help implement or enhance these efforts.

Applicants may consider practices such as:

• Reducing waste through recycling, composting, reusable materials, reduced packaging, and food-waste reduction
• Using reusable signage, décor, badges, and event materials
• Reducing or eliminating single-use plastic water bottles and providing water refill stations
• Encouraging shuttles, public transportation, carpooling, walking, or biking
• Choosing sustainable merchandise, packaging, and purchasing practices
• Purchasing food and products from Estes Valley, regional, or Colorado businesses
• Using energy-efficient or renewable event infrastructure, such as LED or solar lighting and lower-emission equipment
• Hiring local employees, contractors, vendors, artists, entertainers, and volunteers
• Partnering with Estes Valley businesses, nonprofits, schools, artists, and community organizations
• Providing accessible and inclusive event experiences
• Protecting wildlife and natural resources and incorporating responsible visitation or Do Estes Right messaging
• Encouraging overnight stays and spending at local businesses
• Creating other measurable community benefits, such as fundraising, volunteer projects, scholarships, youth programming, or arts and cultural activities

No. Applicants should identify practices that are appropriate to the size, nature, and scope of their event or project.

Tier 1: The examples are intended to provide ideas and guidance, not a requirement to implement every strategy.

Tier 2: Applicants are expected to demonstrate a minimum of three stewardship and local economic or community benefit strategies.

Tier 3: Applicants should demonstrate a minimum of five stewardship and local economic or community benefit strategies.

Yes. VEP sponsorship funds may be used to support the implementation or enhancement of destination stewardship strategies. Applicants should explain what they plan to implement and how VEP's support would strengthen those efforts.

Examples include spending at local restaurants and retailers, local hiring and purchasing, generating overnight stays, volunteer and community engagement, lodging and sales tax revenue, and opportunities for attendees to extend their stay and experience more of the Estes Valley.

Depending on the event or project and the terms of the sponsorship agreement, recipients are expected to:

• Include the VEP logo in event or project materials
• Display a VEP banner at the event, if applicable
• Provide stage mentions recognizing VEP, if applicable
• Share digital and marketing assets with VEP
• Provide an agreed-upon number of complimentary and VIP tickets
• Submit a summary event report documenting outcomes, metrics, and return on investment. The report template will be provided by VEP.

Any additional responsibilities will be outlined in the VEP Sponsorship Agreement if an applicant is awarded funding.

Yes. All approved sponsorship recipients are required to submit a post-event report within 60 days of the final event date.

VEP will provide a standardized post-event reporting form to ensure consistent reporting and evaluation.

Recipients should provide applicable metrics and supporting information, including:

• Verified attendance and participation, if applicable
• Visitor origin and estimated overnight stays, when available
• Local economic and community benefits
• Marketing reach and promotional outcomes
• Sustainability, accessibility, and stewardship outcomes

Partners are also encouraged to submit photos, videos, testimonials, media coverage, and event highlights that demonstrate the visitor experience and community impact.

VEP shares reporting with key stakeholders to help ensure accountability, demonstrate program value, and support continued investment in events and projects that benefit the Estes Valley.

More specifically, post-event reports help VEP:

• Evaluate the return on sponsorship investments
• Measure visitor and community benefits
• Track destination stewardship outcomes
• Assess alignment with VEP's strategic priorities
• Inform future sponsorship and event-support decisions