X.org wishes to acknowledge and encourage donations from sponsors. This policy establishes a set of funding levels with given rewards.
The primary use for the conference donations will be travel sponsorships, to make sure relevant people can actually attend XDC. Funds can also be used for conference amenities like coffee breaks or breakfast. In the past the foundation also paid for social events, but found a somewhat ineffective use of funds. Leftover funds will be directed to the foundations general fund for all community support activities the X.org Foundation covers.
To recognize all the work that goes into organizing an XDC the hosts and organizers will get the Gold level for free, and the Platinum level at a steep discount.
There is only one platinum level sponsor, with the hosts and organizers having priority. The minimum sponsoring amount is US$ 10000, with a discount of US$ 5000 if the hosts and organizers opt for this level.
Perks:
All sponsors will be acknowledged each day in the opening session. The Platinum level sponsor will be mentioned first on one full slide with their logo. The opening session will also be recorded.
The logo can be featured prominently (in the foreground, e.g. on the speaker podium) on stage. This needs to be coordinated with the hosts/organizers.
The platinum sponsor will also be acknowledged when publishing the video recordings as far as technically feasible (either in the recording, or in the text area below).
Logo, name and hyperlink will be featured on the event website (Logo size not exceeding 320x160 pixels).
Gold sponsors are meant to be the primary sponsors of XDC. The minimum sponsoring amount is US$ 5000.
Perks:
All sponsors will be acknowledged each day in the opening session. The Gold level sponsor will be mentioned after platinum level, with each one full slide with their logo. The opening session will also be recorded.
The logo can be featured in the background on stage. This needs to be coordinated with the hosts/organizers.
Logo, name and hyperlink will be featured on the event website (Logo size not exceeding 180x80 pixels).
The minimum sponsoring amount for the Silver level is US$ 2500.
Perks:
All sponsors will be acknowledged each day in the opening session. The Silver level sponsor will be mentioned after gold level, together with other Silver and Bronze level sponsor with their logo (size not exceeding 180x80 pixels). The opening session will also be recorded.
Logo, name and hyperlink will be featured on the event website (Logo size not exceeding 80x80 pixels).
The minimum sponsoring amount for the Bronze level is US$ 1000.
Perks:
The discount for the conference organizers is meant to offset all the unpaid labour that goes into organizing a great conference and into securing local sponsorship for affordable or entirely sponsored venues and other services. Any additional expenses will still be reimbursed through the Foundation's conference funds, after the board's approval.
In case of multiple organizers the board will decide how to fairly recognize them all, without diminishing the contributions of other sponsors. Monetary or in-kind contributions by local sponsors will receive the corresponding benefits like any other sponsors.
Sponsoring social events outside of the conference is very much welcomed, but not part of this policy. Except for a note in the program stating that the social event is sponsored and by whom it must not impact the main conference and its sponsors. Sponsored social events need to be coordinated with the board and organizers.