2 days ago
TC Pride Faces $700K Drop in corporate sponsorships, leans on grants and small donors
The Brief
TC Pride faces some fundraising challenges after losing more than a dozen corporate sponsorships.
Much of the money raised this year came from grants, foundations, and individuals.
In corporate sponsorships for 2025, it received more than $600,000. That's significantly less than the $1.3 million received in 2024.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - June is Pride Month and one of the nation's biggest pride festivals is just two weeks away. TC Pride is facing some fundraising challenges this year after losing more than a dozen corporate sponsorships.
What we know
TC Pride has received more than $600,000 in sponsorships so far this year, which is significantly less than the $1.3 million sponsorships the group received in 2024.
The backstory
The funding issues for TC Pride started in January when they rejected Target's sponsorship after its DEI rollbacks.
In total, they lost 15 corporate sponsors. Those sponsors either pulled out or didn't return phone calls from TC Pride. Its goal is to raise $1.5 million for 2025. Right now they're $25,000 short.
What they're saying
Executive Director Andi Otto says the Pride Festival was always going to happen in full. The question that remains about year-round resources.
"I get asked a lot of times, well, will pride look differently with the funding gaps? The answer is, No, it won't. But where it does impact is our year-round programming, when we're able to do things like our rainbow wardrobe and provide free gender-affirming clothing," said Otto.
A lot of this year's funding came from foundations, grants, and individuals. If you're doing the math at home, that's nearly $900,000 raised.
Otto says small businesses are stepping up to meet some of that funding lost from corporate sponsors. Last year small businesses chipped in $25,000. This year they're at about $93,000.
"Becoming Together Therapy and Wellness, they've been a $2,000 sponsor of mine. And the owner called and said, Andi, we're going to make it happen. We're going to go up to 10 this year. We'll figure it out," said Otto.
What's next
The deadline for fundraising is Festival Weekend. Even if they don't hit that goal by the end of the month, it won't impact the Pride Festival. Any money that comes in now will go towards year-round programming.
