Founder’s Circle
A Founder’s Circle sponsor is a business that embodies the spirit of the Chamber as it was founded; a member that believes in the collaborative spirit between LGBT and LGBT-supportive businesses, between small and large businesses, between the business and non-profit community, and between the business and LGBT community at large. They are innovators whose mission, in part, is to educate, develop, collaborate with, and to enrich our world as a whole. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please contact the Chamber at chamber@lgbtcc.com. Check out our current partners below.
Partnerships
We have partnered with the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Illinois office and SCOREChicago. We created, the first of its kind relationship, that allows the nation’s premier mentors from SCORE to give our members access to their collective wisdom, guidance and expertise through one-on-one consultations for free. This ongoing collaboration with SCOREChicago and the SBA will continue to help bring resources from the SBA to the Chambers’ members.
Chamber Awards
On November 17th, 2016, the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois commemorated our 20th Anniversary at the historic Ivy Room in Chicago. During this event, we granted awards to our strongest partners.
Government Partner of the Year
Robert “Bo” Steiner, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration – Illinois District Office
Bo has been instrumental in providing access to technical counseling and resources to our small businesses by bridging the relationship with the chamber and SCOREChicago, the “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” Through this relationship, the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, SBA Illinois and SCOREChicago have created the first in the nation free counseling center directly targeting LGBT small business owner’s needs which is housed in our office. We thank Bo, for his service and we look forward to growing this great relationship.
ERG/BRG Partner of the Year
Robin Hicks, BP Pride
BP Pride receives the Employee Resource Group (ERG)/Business Resource Group (BRG) Partner Award for their exceptional role in giving a voice of leadership to LGBT employees at BP. The activities of the BP Pride Supplier Diversity Task Force is a leader and template for how ERGs/BRGs can internally engage their own organizations to help Certified LGBT Businesses participate in Supplier Diversity Programs.
Community Partner of the Year
Jim Huberty and Lori Fox
This award goes to Jim Huberty and Lori Fox from Out & Equal Chicago. They have been instrumental in presenting the importance of Certified LGBT Business Enterprises in supplier diversity directly to their Employee Resource Group (ERG)/Business Resource Group (BRG) Pride groups in their corporate membership.
Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year
LaTonya Fourte’-Lyles, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois
For being our personal megaphone and ensuring that certified LGBT owned businesses have an equal say and seat at the table as every other qualified and diverse business that exists. Not only has she been one of our greatest advocates, but she most recently won a very prestigious at her company called the Internal Supplier Diversity Recognition award for her commitment to using diverse small businesses for all internal practices. This award is going to LaTonya Fourte’-Lyles, Manager of Supplier Diversity at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Health Care Service Corporation.
LGBT Entrepreneur of the Year
Kristofer Sangari, Events With a K
This award highlights a significant member of our community who has gone above and beyond to stand out for their exceptional business practices and community involvement. This award recipient started his business in 2010 and it has grown at a rapid rate. Being certified as a LGBT Business Enterprise provided him even more opportunities to grow and expand.
Corporate Partner of the Year
Lettuce Entertain You Events
Lettuce Entertain You demonstrated their commitment to the LGBT community in a comprehensive and tangible way that paves the way for genuine progress to equality.
Founder’s Award
Tracy Baim
This award is dedicated to a trailblazer in our community. She is publisher and executive editor at Windy City Times, a weekly LGBTQ newspaper which she co-founded in 1985. Baim received the 2013 Chicago Headline Club Lifetime Achievement Award for her 30 years in journalism. In 2014, she was inducted into the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Hall of Fame. She has won numerous gay community and journalism honors, including the Community Media Workshop’s Studs Terkel Award in 2005 and several Peter Lisagor journalism awards. She is the founder of the Pride Action Tank, which focuses on research, policy and action on LGBTQ issues such as youth homelessness. She was also co-vice chair of Gay Games VII in Chicago, in 2013 was founder of the March on Springfield for Marriage Equality, and she founded what was then known as the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in 1995.
Sponsorships
Chamber Directory
Sponsorship opportunities are available for our Virtual Member Directory. The virtual directory is the online version of member directory and offers interactive opportunities for your business.
Online Advertising
Sponsorship opportunities are available for our placing online advertising on the Chamber website. Possible locations include the Homepage, and the Directory. We can customize placement based on your partnership.
Website Ads
- 2 ads of equal size located on the right hand side in the featured member column
- Each ad has 10 rotating slots
- Each slot is $30 per month for a voting member (LGBT Owned Business)
- Each slot is $50 per month for a non-voting member (Non-LGBT Owned Business)
- Ads run on a 6 month contract and the current advertiser will receive the first option to renew before it is sold to a new member
- Must be a member to advertise. Each advertiser can only buy 1 slot on the homepage
- Advertiser must provide their own ad to specifications
- Ads will rotate while the home page is being viewed
Ad Specifications
- Ad placement is on a first come first serve basis
- Payment is due when ads are placed
- 150 x150 pixels ad size and 72 pixels per inch resolution
- LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois reserves the right to review all ads submitted for home page
Summer Partnership Series
The 2017 Summer Partnership Series is a great opportunity to market your services with the Chamber’s assistance across multiple popular events over the course of the summer.
SUMMER EVENTS
Andersonville Midsommarfest
Logo placement on our Summer Partners banner which will be displayed during both days of the fest. Volunteer opportunities for your representatives to promote the GL Chamber and your business. As a partner, you can hand out your own company materials directly to all attendees.
Chicago’s Annual Pride Parade
Logo placement on our Summer Partners banner which will be displayed on the LGBT Chamber parade vehicle. Company representatives will be able to march with the LGBT Chamber in the parade. All participants marching in the parade will wear a LGBT Chamber supplied T-shirt with Summer Partner names listed as 2017 supporters. Summer partners can produce a premium item of your own to be tossed to the crowd for this memorable event.
Northalsted Market Days®
Your business will be listed on our banner that will be on display during both days of the fest and your representatives will be able to volunteer to promote the Chamber and your business.
Annual Private Chamber Boat Cruise
Logo placement on our Summer Partners banner which will be displayed prominently on the boat. Company representatives will have access to a special discounted rate on tickets to the boat cruise. Summer Partners can bring literature on the boat cruise to promote their business.
DETAILS
T-Shirts
Summer Partnership T-Shirts will be worn at Pride and given away throughout the rest of the year at various events for promotional and advertising purposes. Each company receives five T-Shirts for Pride.
Raffle Prize Opportunity
Donate a valuable prize and gather contact information for your company at Midsommarfest and Market Days. Minimum prize value of $100. The LGBT Chamber will implement the raffle and collect names and contact information.
Email Blast
Each Summer Partner can produce a dedicated and personalized email that will be distributed to the LGBT Chamber’s list of current and associate members and business professionals. Your email is subject to Chamber approval and must run prior to September 30, 2017.