In-Kind Event Sponsorship

Visit SLO CAL is a non-profit countywide destination marketing and management organization dedicated to inspiring travel and fostering unique experiences that create lifelong ambassadors and drive economic growth for San Luis Obispo County, California. The mission is to promote SLO CAL as a premier travel destination, enhancing its reputation as a vibrant, dynamic place to live and work. 

Visit SLO CAL aims to supporting events that align with the following goals:  

• Attract both new and repeat visitors 
• Strengthen the destination’s brand 
• Encourage multi-day stays, particularly during mid-week and off-season periods 
• Incorporate two or more communities within the county 
• Maintain tourism as a key economic driver in the region 

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Round 1 Submissions  

• Open: Wednesday, April 23rd , 2025 at 12:00 pm  
• Close: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 11:59 pm 
• Applicants notified of application status by Friday, May 30, 2025.  
• Submission must be for events occurring between July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025

Round 2 Submissions 

• Open: Tuesday, October 7th , 2025 at 12:00 pm  
• Close: Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 at 11:59 pm 
• Applicants notified of application status by Friday, November 7th, 2025.  
• Submissions must be for events occurring between January 1, 2026 and June 30, 2026 

_{The submission timeline is for Visit SLO CAL’s FY2025/26.}  

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Visit SLO CAL offers a limited number In-Kind Sponsorships per year based on availability. To ensure balanced support and maximize impact across the region: 

• A maximum of two events may be sponsored per quarter 
• No more than one event will be sponsored within the same month 

^{Visit SLO CAL has a responsibility to prioritize spreading promotional opportunities across the region and will not guarantee a continuous in-kind sponsorship each year.}  

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The In-Kind Sponsorship program offers a variety of marketing benefits that can be tailored to support the unique needs and goals of each sponsored event.  

Sponsorships can include: 

• Social media support, including Instagram Reels, Stories, Grid Posts, or collaborations 
• Event promotion on SLOCAL.com, including event listings, homepage features, or dedicated landing pages 
• Inclusion in Visit SLO CAL’s blog content 
• Features in Visit SLO CAL’s consumer email newsletter 
• Ticket giveaway promotions hosted on Visit SLO CAL channels 

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The criteria below provides an overview of how events will be prioritized. Applicants who meet all of the criteria will be highest priority.  

• Multi-Day Event  
  • Multi-day events will be prioritized  
    • Multi-day events must be consecutive days; recurring events (weekly, monthly, quarterly) will not be considered.  
• Event Attendance Data  
  • Event organizers who can provide concrete and accurate event attendance data through ticket sales or other metrics will be prioritized  
• Attendee Mix  
  • Priority will be given to events that bring in higher numbers of out-of-county event attendees 
• Attendance Rate  
  • Events with 1,500 attendees or more will be prioritized  
• SLO CAL Based Event  
  • The event must be specific to SLO CAL, not a traveling event (i.e. Circus, Broadway Show) 
• Marketing Budget  
  • Priority will be given to events that have a dedicated marketing budget with existing social channels, newsletter, and website that have high engagement rates  
• Established Event  
  • Priority will be given to annual events that have occurred in the past 

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