Why support the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG)? 

CSG is the leading smart growth advocacy and education nonprofit in the Washington DC region, working in DC, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Northern Virginia. The Coalition’s staff and volunteers have successfully campaigned for walkable, mixed-use, and transit-oriented communities for 24 years. We boast 24,000+ regional subscribers, a web of non-profit and business partnerships, and dozens of committed volunteers who turn out to support smart growth plans and projects. CSG provides the most respected voice in the DC region on the interconnected issues of land use, transportation, and housing. We offer a regional vision of a network of walkable, transit-oriented communities, earning official support, although uneven implementation. We have a well-established reputation for expertise, integrity, partnerships, local community engagement, and relationships with decision makers that have allowed us to successfully shape change.  

Our effectiveness has been recognized by the Washington Business Journal three times in their Power100 list of most influential regional business leaders, four times by the Catalogue for Philanthropy, and by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ 2017 Regional Partnership Award.

We have made transit-oriented development the priority focus of local governments and the Council of Governments, supported over 130 master plans and individual smart growth development projects, won the first-ever dedicated funding for Metro and nearly 100 miles of bus rapid transit corridors, campaigned for increased housing supply and affordability tools, and advanced urban “complete street” designs and reforms to parking requirements. Working years ahead of current trends, we helped create the plans and environment that have attracted the next generation workforce and companies to walkable, urban Metro station locations.

Amid the pandemic, we have led campaigns to save transit and fund affordable housing, while continuing to make the case for transit-oriented development as the most sustainable and equitable way for our region to grow. CSG’s advocacy is more important than ever for winning continued public support and for addressing the economic, social and environmental challenges of our time.

Without corporate support, representing up to 25% of our annual budget, we would be unable to provide the high level of grassroots, communications, and policy advocacy that we do today. CSG offers a variety of opportunities for businesses to support our work through membership in our Smart Growth Business Council and sponsorship of events and professional development.

Smart Growth Business Council (SGBC):            $15,000/$10,000/$5,000

Firms that sponsor CSG’s Livable Communities Leadership Award reception at the $15,000, $10,000 or $5,000 level, or sponsor other CSG events at a cumulative level of $5000 and above, are recognized as members of our Smart Growth Business Council. Firms who provide regular annual sponsorship and membership in the SGBC provide important stability to our corporate fundraising. CSG staff meet with SGBC member firms during the course of the year, stay up to date on member projects, and discuss critical policy issues of mutual concern. CSG hosts an annual corporate breakfast or lunch each January with a guest speaker — typically a local elected official or senior government planner.

Sponsorship Opportunities

CSG provides a wide range of opportunities for firms to sponsor events and support programs. Our events in 2021 will be virtual, as they were in 2020, due to the pandemic, until the health emergency is declared over.

Signature Events:

• Livable Communities Leadership Award            $15,000/$10,000/$5,000/$2,500/$1,000/$500
• Our main corporate fundraiser of the year, held in April, honors a local official or private sector individual and attracts a who’s who from the development, architecture, planning, and transportation sectors, along with elected officials and smart growth advocates. Sponsorships include logo recognition and hyperlinks in all promotional materials, which include our website, email list, social media, press outreach, and display boards. Individual ticket price — $100. Attendance – 150. (Virtual in 2021)

• Smart Growth Social                                        $5,000/$2,500/$1,000/$500
• This fundraiser, held in October, has become the must-attend networking event of the year for the smart growth community, attracting a highly-engaged spectrum of supporters from elected officials to urban planning students to community activists. Usually held at DC’s Eastern Market, the event attracts up to 250 attendees. We feature locally-produced beer, wine, and food. Individual ticket price — $25. Attendance – 250. (Potentially a virtual event in 2021)

Other Events:

Sponsorships include logo recognition and hyperlinks in all promotional materials.

• Walking tours                                                               $1,000 each, $5,000 for series
• Our signature walking tours held in the spring, summer, and fall attract a broad cross-section of participants from downsizing empty nesters to young professionals, in addition to planners, architects and government officials. Participants learn from the experts about successful smart growth projects and neighborhoods. Ticket price – free; donations accepted.  Attendance – 30 to 70. (Virtual until pandemic is over)

• Forums:                                                                        $1,000 to $2,500
• Our educational forums address a range of policy topics and are usually tied to our advocacy campaigns. We attract leading national and local transportation, land use, and housing experts. Ticket price – free, donations accepted. Attendance – up to 100. (Virtual until pandemic is over)
• Workshop:                                                                   $500 to $1,000
• Our workshops focus on specific technical planning issues. Ticket price – free, donations accepted.  Attendance — 20 to 40. (Virtual until pandemic is over)