Session: Sponsoring & Funding

Overview

How to pay for the conference.

Ways to fund it

• Free entry, sponsored - Many FOSS conferences are free and sponsors pick up the tab.
• Ask for donations - Open Collective, bank transfers, WordPress plugins.
• Merch - T-shirts and stickers via Shopify + Printful. Not a money maker, but people like having them.
• Grants - Talk to foundations and community groups.

Sponsors

• Show them the value - They want visibility, the chance to recruit people, and good community karma.
• Different tiers - Some sponsors have small budgets, some have big ones.
• Share the work - If multiple orgs co-host, you split the cost. That’s the easiest way to make it sustainable.

Food matters

Seriously, don’t cheap out on food.

• Dinner - Pick good restaurants and locations. People remember good food.
• Lunch - Add fresh fruit. It’s one thing people wish for.
• Coffee & Tea - Keep it flowing. Add snacks.
• Breaks - Take more of them than you think you need. That’s when people actually talk.