Pink Festival Ethical Sponsorship & Partnership Policy

1. Purpose & Values

The Pink Festival Group is committed to fostering partnerships that align with our core values of Celebrate, Involve, and Inspire, while contributing positively to the LGBTQ+ community and the wider society. External funding enables the event to remain accessible, inclusive, and most importantly, free to attend.

This policy ensures that every partnership reflects our core values, while safeguarding our financial stability and independence.

We prioritise working with organisations that demonstrate a strong commitment to ethical conduct, sustainability, and the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion, both for their employees and the broader community.

2. Our Core Commitments

Full Spectrum Transparency: Cambridge Pride operates an open data model for partnership. All sponsorship funding and in-kind donations, along with how these donations will be used, are published on our website.

Proportionate Funding: No single sponsor may contribute more than 50% of Cambridge Pride’s total annual income.

Authentic Allyship: Partners must demonstrate sustained, year-round commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. Partners must provide evidence of at least two year-round actions supporting LGBTQ+ equality.

Right to veto: We reserve the right to refuse partnerships from any organisation if Cambridge Pride does not believe that the organisation aligns with our values, regardless of whether they meet our Ethical Principles set out below.

3. Ethical Principles

1. Hate and Division: We refuse to partner with any organisation that spreads messages of hate and intolerance or seeks to sow division among communities. This includes, but is not limited to, racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, or otherwise discriminatory ideologies. We will not accept a partnership with companies that marginalise or exclude Trans and non-binary people.

2. Fossil Fuels: We will not accept funds from companies that knowingly derive significant revenue directly from fossil-fuel extraction and production- or lack credible decarbonisation plans.

3. Armed Conflict and Weapons: We will not accept partnerships with  organisations that commercially profit from armed conflict, occupation, or violations of international humanitarian law, including the suppression of civilian populations or the denial of fundamental rights. This includes companies whose primary commercial purpose is the manufacture, sale, or servicing of weapons or warfare systems for profit.

4. Anti-LGBTQ+ Owned Companies: We will not accept a partnership with companies that are state-owned or majority-funded by entities from jurisdictions that criminalise LGBTQ+ identities or support anti-LGBTQ+ laws or policies.

5. Gambling Company Partnerships: We will not consider partnering with gambling companies or companies that engage in exploitative practices.

6. Tobacco and Vaping Industry: To protect the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, we will not partner with or accept partnerships with companies involved in the manufacture or promotion of tobacco products and vaping devices, including e-cigarettes and related accessories.

7. Human Rights and Exploitative Labour Practices: We will not partner with companies that have substantiated records of human rights abuses, corruption, or environmental destruction. We will not partner with companies that engage in exploitative labour practices, such as child labour, forced labour, or unsafe working conditions. We believe in the fair treatment and protection of workers’ rights.

8. Surveillance Technologies: We will not partner with companies that develop or supply technologies used for repression, discriminatory profiling, rights violations, or invasive monitoring.

Furthermore, Cambridge Pride will not work with companies who are only interested in a marketing partnership to exploit the communities we serve. We seek sponsors who are genuinely invested in supporting the LGBTQ+ community and are willing to engage in meaningful, long-term collaborations.

Cambridge Pride is non-partisan. Political Parties may not sponsor the event.

Notwithstanding the criteria set out above, the Trustees reserve the absolute right to approve, refuse, or withdraw any sponsorship, partnership, or funding arrangement at their sole discretion. In exercising this discretion, the Trustees may consider the local LGBTQ+ community’s feedback, reputational risk, alignment with the organisation’s values and charitable objectives, legal and regulatory considerations, and the wider public interest. The Trustees’ decision shall be final.

4. Our Expectations of Partners

1. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We prioritise partnerships with organisations that demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplace and business practices. This includes actively promoting representation, equal opportunities, and inclusive environments for marginalised communities. Partners should, where possible, provide evidence of actions supporting LGBTQ+ equality.

2. Commitment to Sustainability and Social Responsibility: We prioritise partnerships with organisations that share our dedication to sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. We actively seek collaborations with companies that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint, minimising waste, and promoting eco-friendly initiatives. Furthermore, we value partners who demonstrate a strong sense of social responsibility by supporting local communities and engaging in ethical business practices.

3. Transparency and Accountability: We expect our partners to maintain a high level of transparency and accountability in their business practices. We will not collaborate with organisations that engage in deceptive marketing, fraud, corruption, or other unethical conduct.

5. Due Diligence Process

Step 1: Initial Screening

•        Review of sector, business activities, and public reputation

•        Identification of any controversies or campaigns involving the organisation

•        Assessment of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) performance where available

Step 2: Internal Review Panel

A panel including trustees, volunteers, plus community representation and external advisors (where applicable) evaluates the organisation based on transparency, accountability, and alignment with The Pink Festival Group values.

6. Partnership Due Diligence Questionnaire

Companies looking to sponsor Cambridge Pride will need to complete the following due diligence questionnaire.

1.      Company Overview

•        Company Overview: Provide a summary of your organisation, including its sector, core business activities, and global presence.

•        LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Describe your organisation’s track record on LGBTQ+ inclusion, including any internal campaigns delivered.

•        Human Rights & Ethics: Declare any controversies or campaigns related to human rights, discrimination, or unethical practices.

•        Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): Summarise ESG performance and sustainability initiatives.

•        Community Impact: Describe the impact of your organisation on marginalised communities.

•        Public Perception & Media: Summarise recent public sentiment or media coverage related to ethics or diversity.

•        Declaration – I have read and understood the Ethical Partnership & Sponsorship Policy found on our website, and my organisation does not fall into an exclusion category.

7. AI-Assisted Due Diligence Framework

To support a consistent and transparent approach to evaluating potential sponsors, Cambridge Pride may utilise AI tools – such as Microsoft Copilot – to assist in generating due diligence reports.