Sponsorship Requirements

Carpathian is committed to supporting technology communities, open source projects, and innovative initiatives that align with our values of transparency, technical excellence, and community growth. Our sponsorship program helps fund events, software development, educational initiatives, and community projects.

Types of Sponsorships We Support

1. Technology Events & Conferences

We sponsor technology conferences, meetups, hackathons, and educational workshops that:

• Focus on software development, cloud infrastructure, or emerging technologies
• Promote learning and knowledge sharing within tech communities
• Support diversity and inclusion in technology
• Have a clear educational or community benefit
• Maintain high standards for content quality and organization

2. Open Source Software Projects

We provide financial support, development resources, and infrastructure for innovative open source projects that meet our strict criteria:

• Copyleft Licensing Required: Must use GPL v2, GPL v3, AGPL, or similar copyleft licenses that ensure derivative works remain open source
• Original Innovation: Projects must offer novel solutions or significantly improve upon existing approaches - generic implementations of common tools will not be considered
• No AI Wrappers: Simple interfaces or wrappers around existing AI services (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) do not qualify - we seek substantive technical innovation
• Genuine Utility: Must solve real problems and provide measurable benefits to users or communities
• Technical Excellence: Demonstrate high-quality code, proper documentation, comprehensive testing, and professional development practices
• Ethical Purpose: Software must be designed for constructive purposes and not facilitate harmful activities (cybersecurity research and penetration testing tools may be considered on a case-by-case basis)
• Active Development: Projects must have committed maintainers and demonstrate ongoing development momentum
• Community Engagement: Evidence of user adoption or potential for significant community impact

3. Educational Initiatives

We support educational programs and resources including:

• Coding bootcamps and technical training programs
• University computer science and engineering programs
• STEM education initiatives for underrepresented groups
• Technical documentation and learning resource development
• Scholarship programs for technology education

4. Community Organizations

We sponsor non-profit organizations and community groups that:

• Support technology professionals and enthusiasts
• Promote digital literacy and technology access
• Foster innovation and entrepreneurship
• Build inclusive technology communities
• Have measurable community impact

5. Research & Innovation Projects

We provide funding for research initiatives focused on:

• Cloud computing and distributed systems
• Software engineering methodologies
• Cybersecurity and data privacy
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications
• Sustainable technology practices

6. Charitable Causes & Community Support

Beyond technology-focused sponsorships, Carpathian also supports charitable organizations and causes that create positive community impact:

• Financial literacy and economic empowerment programs
• Environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives
• Educational scholarships and youth development programs
• Community health and wellness initiatives
• Disaster relief and emergency response efforts
• Organizations supporting underserved populations

Charitable Causes - Special Considerations

For charitable organizations and community causes, we have additional guidelines to ensure our support creates meaningful impact:

Charitable Organization Requirements

• Tax-Exempt Status: Must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization or equivalent non-profit status
• Financial Transparency: Provide annual reports, Form 990, or equivalent financial documentation
• Community Focus: Demonstrate clear local or regional community benefit
• Impact Measurement: Ability to track and report specific outcomes and beneficiaries
• Operational Excellence: Evidence of effective governance and program management

Preferred Charitable Focus Areas

• Education & Technology Access: Programs that bridge the digital divide
• Financial Empowerment: Organizations promoting financial literacy and economic opportunity
• Environmental Stewardship: Sustainable community development and conservation efforts
• Workforce Development: Skills training and career development programs
• Emergency Relief: Disaster response and community crisis support

Charitable Funding Guidelines

• Funding Range: $1,000 - $10,000 per organization annually
• Multi-Year Support: Potential for ongoing partnership with proven organizations
• Local Priority: Iowa-based organizations receive priority consideration
• Collaborative Opportunities: Preference for organizations open to employee volunteering

Technology Sponsorship Requirements

General Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for sponsorship, your project or event must:

• Align with our values: Promote transparency, technical excellence, and community benefit
• Have clear objectives: Provide specific, measurable goals and expected outcomes
• Demonstrate credibility: Show evidence of competent leadership and organization
• Be legally compliant: Operate within applicable laws and regulations
• Provide accountability: Commit to reporting on fund usage and project outcomes

Application Requirements

Your sponsorship request must include:

• Project/Event Overview: Detailed description of purpose, scope, and timeline
• Budget Breakdown: Specific allocation of requested funds
• Team Information: Background of key organizers and their qualifications
• Community Impact: Expected benefits and target audience
• Success Metrics: How you will measure and report success
• Previous Work: Examples of past projects or events (if applicable)
• Sponsorship Recognition: How Carpathian will be acknowledged

Financial Guidelines

• Minimum Request: $500 USD
• Maximum Request: $25,000 USD (larger requests considered case-by-case)
• Application Timeline: Submit requests at least 60 days before funding needed
• Reporting Requirements: Post-event/project report within 30 days of completion

Evaluation Criteria

We evaluate sponsorship requests based on:

• Community Impact (30%): Potential to benefit the technology community
• Technical Merit (25%): Quality and innovation of the proposed work
• Team Capability (20%): Experience and track record of organizers
• Budget Efficiency (15%): Effective use of requested funds
• Brand Alignment (10%): Consistency with Carpathian's values and mission

What We Do NOT Sponsor

Carpathian does not provide sponsorship for:

• Individual personal projects without community benefit
• For-profit events or commercial ventures
• Projects that promote discrimination or exclusion
• Activities that conflict with our business interests or values
• Events or projects with insufficient organization or planning

Application Process

1. Initial Contact: Submit your request through our partnership assessment form
2. Review Period: We review applications within 2-3 weeks
3. Follow-up: We may request additional information or schedule a call
4. Decision: Final decisions are communicated within 4-6 weeks
5. Agreement: Approved sponsorships require a signed agreement
6. Funding: Funds are typically disbursed 1-2 weeks before the event/project start

Reporting and Recognition

Sponsored Entity Obligations

• Acknowledge Carpathian in all promotional materials
• Provide Carpathian logo placement at events or in project documentation
• Submit a detailed post-event/project report
• Provide photos, videos, or documentation as agreed upon
• Use funds only for stated purposes

Recognition Guidelines

• Sponsorship tiers will determine level of recognition
• Logo usage must follow our brand guidelines
• Any marketing materials featuring Carpathian require prior approval
• Social media mentions should tag @CarpathianAI

Contact Information

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact us at:

• Email: Partnership Assessment Form
• Response Time: We typically respond within 3-5 business days
• Follow-up: We may request additional documentation or schedule a call