Des Moines Pride experiences sponsorship pullback
Des Moines' Capital City Pride may lose up to $75,000 in corporate sponsorships this year — a sign of a broader national pullback during Pride Month, executive director Wes Mullins tells Axios.
Why it matters: Some companies are scaling back on Pride Month sponsorships under pressure from political and cultural backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Local organizers have scrambled to fill the financial void to pull off this week's flagship Pride events.
State of play: Capital City Pride filled the funding gap with new grants and record-breaking individual support from its March gala, Mullins said.
He declined to identify corporate sponsors that have reduced or ended sponsorship.
Between the lines: Several longtime sponsors — including Nationwide and MidAmerican Energy — are absent from this year's Capital City Pride list, per an Axios comparison of 2024 and 2025 public records.
What they're saying: Nationwide declined to comment.
MidAmerican Energy frequently alters its sponsorships among various organizations, and although it is not a sponsor of this year's Pride, a group of its employees will walk in the parade on its behalf, said spokesperson Geoff Greenwood.
The other side: Mullins said he reminds sponsors that the LGBTQ+ community — and Capital City Pride — are worth every dollar.
"I make the strong case that this is a good investment and there is no reason to fear the retribution that some worry about, but instead, more people will be proud to see your support," he said.
Reality check: Many factors influence sponsorship decisions, and not being listed doesn't necessarily mean that a company no longer supports the event's mission, Mullins said.
Coldwell Banker, for example, tells Axios that its 2024 sponsorship was associated with a DSM agent and office that is no longer part of the company.
Yes, but: While Capital City Pride and its $600,000 event budget are not struggling this year, organizers are still seeking private donors, partly because they believe corporate donations may decline further in the coming years, Mullins said.
Events like meet-and-greets with Bob the Drag Queen sold out weeks in advance. Vendor spots are nearly filled to capacity, and participation in the Pride Parade remains robust, he said.
Zoom in: Teen and family programming has been expanded, and cast members from "Hamilton" will perform on the main stage as part of this week's celebrations.
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