Event Funding Program
Your event success with meeting resources from Visit Greater Grand Forks
At Visit Greater Grand Forks, we offer a comprehensive range of meeting resources designed to ensure your event's success. In addition to our extensive complimentary services program, we provide funding options to help offset event costs, making it easier to plan and execute a successful gathering. Leverage our resources to create memorable meetings and experiences in Grand Forks, and let us support you every step of the way!
EVENT FUNDING PROGRAM PURPOSE
Visit Greater Grand Forks provides funding to groups or organizations that promote the community by hosting new or expanding events that address the following criteria (in order of importance):
- Ability to make a significant economic impact on Greater Grand Forks.
- Strategic plan to draw attendees living outside a 50-mile radius of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks and potential for repeatable annual growth.
- Events lasting multiple days and/or large enough in attendance to be recognized regionally or beyond.
- Promote Greater Grand Forks as an entertainment, recreation and tourism center.
- Events with sponsorships from additional sources (financial and in-kind).
Special consideration may be given to homegrown annual events sponsored by Greater Grand Forks residents or organizations and start-up events with significant growth potential.
ADMINISTRATION
Visit Greater Grand Forks administers the program with funding provided by Visit GGF and the City of Grand Forks.
FUNDING TYPES
- Convention Development Fund for meetings, conferences and conventions
- Tournament Development Fund for competitions and athletic tournaments
- Event Development Fund for festivals and special events
INELIGIBLE FUNDING
- Donations: Funds awarded may not be utilized to make charitable donations.
- Agency: Funds awarded may not be utilized for ongoing or routine administrative and operational costs for applicant organizations.
- Virtual: Events that are 100% virtual are ineligible.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Only complete applications will be considered and must include the following:
- Application form (please use the application that matches your event type).
- Marketing plan of how the event will be promoted locally and non-locally (template provided).
- Event budget with major revenue and expense elements (template provided).
- Event management outlining overseeing body.
- Event schedule with major activities, participants and venues.
- Zip/postal code report of attendees/participants from previous year (does not apply to first-time events). If event is a consumer show or festival, please provide this report for the vendors.
Applications must include all the above items to be considered for funding.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Applications are accepted three times annually with the following deadlines:
- January 15
- May 15
- September 15
Conventions and tournaments must occur at least 60 days or more following the application deadline to be considered. Special events must submit applications a minimum of six months in advance of scheduled event.
AWARD PROCESS
- Funding awards will be decided by a review committee made up of volunteers, appointed by the Visit Greater Grand Forks Board of Directors, to include the Executive Director three times annually.
- Funding is contingent on the event reasonably occurring as proposed and within the projected time frame.
- Applicants must notify the Visit GGF Executive Director if significant changes are expected that would impact the event as proposed.
- The full amount awarded will be dispersed following completion of the event when the following has been received within 60 days of event completion and reviewed to the satisfaction of the Visit GGF Executive Director:
- Completed Request for Funds/Evaluation report (supplied by Visit GGF)
- Documentation of marketing activities
- Documentation of Visit GGF’s sponsorship recognition
- Visit GGF may withdraw funding or request the return of funds for events that are substantially reduced, inaccurately portrayed in the application or which do not reasonably occur withing the proposed dates.
Meetings
