Proposed 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program  ## Metadata - Author: [[Make WordPress Community]] - Full Title: Proposed 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: - #WordPress - #Community - #Sponsorship - #WordCamps - #Meetups - #OpenSource - #OSPO - #DeveloperAdvocacy Author: Make WordPress Community (post by Courtney Robertson et al.) Source: WordCamp.org Reference: https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/09/28/proposed-2024-global-community-sponsorship-program/ date created: 2025-08-23 00:00 --- # Title: Proposed 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program — Structured Notes and Analysis ## Table of Contents: - 🎯 Overview (#overview) - 📈 TL;DR and 2023 Highlights (#tldr) - 🧩 Program Details (#details) - 🧮 WordCamp & Meetup Data (#data) - 🆕 Next-Gen Events (#nextgen) - 💸 Why Global Sponsorship (#why-global) - 🧱 Packages, Benefits, and Constraints (#packages) - 📝 Summary (#summary) - 📖 Main Content (#main-content) - 🗒️ Notes (#notes) - 📚 References (#references) - 🗣️ Paraphrase (#paraphrase) - 📰 Newsletter (#newsletter) - ✅ Action Items (DevAdv/OSPO Alignment) (#action-items) - 🧪 Hypotheses (#hypotheses) - 📊 Methodology (#methodology) - ❓ Questions (#questions) - 🔮 Future Research (#future-research) - 💡 Implications (#implications) - 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment (#learning-styles) - 📊 Accessibility Assessment (#accessibility) - 🌍 DEIB Assessment (#deib) - ✅ Logical Validity (#logical-validity) - 🛡️ DARVO Analysis (#darvo) - 🔍 SEO Evaluation (#seo) - 🎯 Conclusion (#conclusion) ### References: - Make WordPress Community: Proposed 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program - WordCamp Central: WordCamp Schedule - Meetup: WordPress Chapter Meetup groups ## 🎯 Overview This announcement proposes the 2024 structure of WordPress Global Community Sponsorship, retaining a tiered package model (Gold/Silver/Bronze), reflecting community growth, and emphasizing streamlined, centralized sponsorship to support WordCamps and Meetups worldwide. Direct call-to-action: “If your company is interested in global sponsorship, please email [email protected] by November 30, 2023.” (opening) ## 📈 TL;DR and 2023 Highlights - In-person WordCamps grew by 60% YoY from 2022 to 2023. (TL;DR) - Next-Gen Events launched; continued expansion expected in 2024. (Next-Gen) - 2024 packages reflect higher volume and rising costs; three tiers remain. (TL;DR) - Gold sponsors can feature one global brand with affiliated-brand flexibility, one brand per WordCamp. (TL;DR) ## 🧩 Program Details - WordPress powers 43% of the web and is volunteer-run, with global events (Meetups, WordCamps). (Details) - 270 dormant Meetups reactivated (Jul 2022–Jun 2023), now 729 chapter groups in 107 countries with 500k+ members. (Details) - Purpose reframed to emphasize accessible training, networking, 21st-century skills, and professional opportunities. (Details) ## 🧮 WordCamp & Meetup Data - 2023: 36 local WordCamps held, 25 more scheduled at time of writing; expected ≥60 vs. 22 in 2022. (Program Data) - Meetups: 729 groups, 107 countries, 507,796 members, ~2,998 events in 2023 (+340 scheduled). (Program Data) ## 🆕 Next-Gen Events - Experimenting with new formats tailored to audiences (developers, students), more regional/local events, and hybrid/online connection formats; 15 pilot events, 11 in 2023. (Next-Gen) ## 💸 Why Global Sponsorship - Centralized coordination saves sponsors time (annual/quarterly billing, single contact). (Why sponsor) - Stabilizes local events with predictable funding. (Why sponsor) ## 🧱 Packages, Benefits, and Constraints - Tiers: Gold, Silver, Bronze; annual commitments; visibility scales by tier. (Packages) - Gold: single agreement; can select 1 brand to feature per WordCamp from affiliated list with one-month notice; prominence by logo size/order. (Packages + footnotes) - Tickets: free reserved sponsor tickets return to pool if unclaimed one month prior; intended for reps, not giveaways. (footnote) - Tables: not guaranteed; provided if venue allows; confirm one month in advance. (footnote) - Exclusions: Flagships (WCEU, WCUS, WordCamp Asia, Community Summit) are not included in global program. (Details) ## 📝 Summary The 2024 proposal retains a three-tier global sponsorship model to streamline support for the rapidly growing WordPress event ecosystem. It underscores measurable community resurgence post-pandemic, the emergence of Next-Gen event formats, and operational policies around branding, tickets, and tables. Companies gain centralized billing and coordination, while communities gain stability and accessibility. ## 📖 Main Content This program is designed to connect sponsor resources with community needs at scale. It strengthens the contributor pipeline, enhances accessibility through low-cost events, and adapts to post-pandemic realities via Next-Gen formats. The policy refinements (brand representation, ticket reclamation, table availability) promote clarity and fairness for organizers and sponsors. Personal insights: - The brand-flex provision for Gold recognizes consolidation in the WP economy while maintaining local nuance. - Ticket-return and table-confirmation windows reduce no-shows and optimize limited space—good operational hygiene. - Excluding flagships keeps the global program focused on broad, distributed impact while leaving major events to bespoke sponsorship deals. ### 🗒️ Notes - Growth - 60% YoY increase in in-person WordCamps from 2022→2023. - ≥60 WordCamps expected in 2023 vs. 22 in 2022. - Meetups - 729 chapter groups, 107 countries, ~508k members. - ~2,998 events in 2023 (+340 scheduled). - 270 reactivated Meetups (2022–2023). - Next-Gen - 15 pilots confirmed; 11 in 2023. - Specialized formats for specific audiences; hybrid/online connectivity. - Packages - Gold/Silver/Bronze; annual; visibility scales by tier. - Gold: one global brand with per-event affiliated brand choice (1 per WordCamp; 1-month notice). - Operations - Sponsor tickets reclaimed 1 month prior if unclaimed; for company reps only. - Tables offered if venue allows; confirm attendance 1 month ahead. - Scope - Global program excludes flagship events (WCEU, WC Asia, Summit, WCUS). - Rationale - Centralized sponsorship saves time; stabilizes local events; ensures broad reach. ## 📚 References - Proposed 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program: https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/09/28/proposed-2024-global-community-sponsorship-program/ - WordCamp schedule: https://central.wordcamp.org/schedule/ - WordPress Chapter Meetups: https://www.meetup.com/pro/wordpress/ ## 🗣️ Paraphrase 1) Original idea: In 2023, in-person WordCamps increased 60% from 2022; Next-Gen Events should drive further growth; package rates will rise to reflect more events and higher costs. Paraphrase: Compared to last year, we saw a 60% surge in face-to-face WordCamps, and with Next-Gen formats rolling out, we anticipate even more activity in 2024. To match this expansion and the increased costs of running events, the 2024 sponsorship prices will be adjusted upward. 2) Original idea: The global program streamlines sponsorship via centralized coordination and annual/quarterly billing, ensuring timely support and stability for local events. Paraphrase: Rather than juggling many local organizer relationships, companies can use a single, centralized agreement with predictable billing. This approach accelerates funding to communities and provides consistent, reliable backing for grassroots events. ## 📰 Newsletter Web dev learning corner: If you’re honing PHP/JS skills, there’s no better classroom than your local WordPress Meetup or WordCamp workshop. With nearly 3,000 Meetup events this year and 60+ WordCamps expected, hands-on learning is everywhere. Community highlights: The Next-Gen WordPress Events pilot is in full swing—think niche developer tracks, student-focused sessions, and new regional formats designed for real connection. Sponsorship update: The 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program keeps the Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers and adds practical tweaks for today’s WordPress economy (hello, brand-flex for Gold). It streamlines support via centralized billing so more communities can keep tickets affordable. New and notable: Planning an event? Confirm sponsor table attendance a month out; unclaimed sponsor tickets - Summary: The document proposes the 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program for WordCamp, an annual conference for local WordPress communities. The program aims to support volunteer-organized, local events by providing financial and organizational support through sponsorship. The proposed program offers three sponsorship packages - Gold, Silver, and Bronze - with varying levels of visibility at WordCamps and Meetups. Gold-level sponsors have the option to feature one company brand at each WordCamp. The document also highlights the growth and impact of WordPress community events and provides data on the number of WordCamps and Meetups held in 2023. - URL: https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/09/28/proposed-2024-global-community-sponsorship-program/ If your company is interested in global sponsorship, please indicate your interest by emailing [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) by November 30, 2023. After deliberation and conversation with current [Global Sponsors](https://central.wordcamp.org/global-community-sponsors/), we have the proposed draft for the 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program. If you know a company that you think would be a good candidate for global sponsorship, please suggest they review this post, provide feedback, and email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) for more details! #### TL;DR In 2023, the in-person WordCamp number increased by 60% compared to 2022. With the new Next Gen Events, we expect the number of events to keep growing in 2024. Package rates will increase from [2023](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023-wordpress-global-community-sponsorship-program/) to 2024 to reflect that growth, as well as the rising cost of hosting events. ****Highlights from 2023 that will be kept in 2024**** * One package for the whole program, with three tiers: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. * For top level sponsors (Gold), the option to have one brand as the global sponsor, and select affiliated brands for representation at each WordCamp (one brand per WordCamp). This is in reflection of the high number of mergers and acquisitions in the WordPress space in recent years. #### Questions? Feedback? If you have any questions, observations, or critical feedback about the program in general or these proposed changes, please comment on the post! Thank you for the diligent work in creating this year’s program, [@kcristiano](https://profiles.wordpress.org/kcristiano/), [@sippis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/), [@harmonyromo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/harmonyromo/), [@angelasjin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/angelasjin/), [@cbringmann](https://profiles.wordpress.org/cbringmann/), and thank you to our current [Global Sponsors](https://central.wordcamp.org/global-community-sponsors/) for their input. #### The Details 43% of the web is powered by WordPress, the free and open source software built and maintained by thousands of volunteers worldwide. The WordPress contributor community comprises developers, designers, writers, photographers, freelancers, agency professionals, and hobbyists, many of whom gather regularly around the world at locally organized monthly and annual events. Official WordPress community events are exclusively volunteer-organized, and each reflects the interests and expertise of the local community. In 2023, the WordPress community maintained its efforts to: * Reactivate the Meetup groups that had gone dormant during the pandemic * Bring in-person WordCamps back * Inspire new event types. As a result of the Meetup Reactivation project that started in July 2022 and ended in June 2023, 270 dormant Meetups started hosting events again. Today, we have 729 WordPress Chapter Meetups in 107 countries and over 500,000 members globally. In the first 7 months of 2023, the WordPress Community has held 27 WordCamps, and another 29 are scheduled before year-end. After overcoming a global pandemic, the world has seen a shift in people’s needs and priorities, and our community also saw the need to respond with new event formats. To address these challenges, the community team has proposed different ways of meeting and has revamped our purpose: *WordPress events spark innovation and adoption through accessible training and networking for users, builders, designers, and extenders. We celebrate community by accelerating 21st-century skills, professional opportunities, and partnerships for WordPressers of today and tomorrow.* Since the WP Community launched the Next-Gen of WordPress Events, the response from the community leaders has been enthusiastic: 15 pilot events have already been confirmed, 11 of those for 2023. WordCamp is the annual conference for local WordPress communities; it’s a casual, non-commercial, educational event about WordPress. Events range from intimate 50-person unconferences to multi-track conferences attended by over 3,000. Conference session topics include WordPress development, design, business, social media integration, blogging, and marketing. WordCamp tickets are sold at an extremely low price ($25 – $50 USD per person per day) so that events are accessible to people of any financial background. Online WordCamps are always free of charge to attend. ***Please note that the Global Community Sponsorship program does not include current or future flagship events such as WordCamp Europe, WordCamp Asia, the Community Summit, or WordCamp US, even though they’re listed on the official schedule.*** ###### WordCamp Program Data At the time of writing, 36 local WordCamps have been held in 2023, and another 25 are scheduled before year-end. We anticipate finishing the 2023 year with at least 60 WordCamps, compared to 22 last year.WordCamps confirmed for 2024 can be found [on the official schedule](http://central.wordcamp.org/schedule/). WordPress Meetups are locally-organized user groups that meet for face-to-face events regularly to discuss WordPress (commonly once a month). These events take many formats: presentations/lecture series, hackathons, social gatherings, workshops, coworking, running a WordPress help desk, contributor sprints/drives, and others. Groups hosted on meetup.com can become [an official WordPress chapter group](https://www.meetup.com/pro/wordpress/) and receive financial and organizational support from the WordPress Community team. * 729 groups * 107 countries with a meetup group * 507,796 group members, program-wide * 2,998 meetup events scheduled in 2023 to date, and over 340 more scheduled through the end of the year ###### Next-Gen of WordPress Events The Community Team has been inviting organizers to experiment with [new event formats](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/08/30/the-nextgen-event-project-your-ideas-your-wordpress-community/), including more regional and local events, specialized content for different audiences (such as developers or students), and a [range of events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2023/09/19/from-japan-to-rome-recent-and-upcoming-next-generation-wordpress-events/) to create much-desired connections online and in person. ###### Meetup Program Data (as of 28 September 2023) * Total events: 15 * 11 events in 2023 * 4 events in 2024 * 4 events have been implemented/started * 4 events are scheduled * 8 events are currently in planning phase #### How does event sponsorship help WordPress? Companies that sponsor WordPress community events support the WordPress open source project by helping our volunteer-organized, local events provide free or low-cost access for attendees. WordPress community events strengthen, inspire, and connect the community that builds and maintains WordPress #### Why sponsor via this program rather than sponsoring individual events? As the WordPress community continues to grow, many companies find they don’t have time to coordinate with multiple teams of volunteer event organizers. The WordPress Global Community Sponsorship Program ensures that your support reaches WordCamps and meetups quickly and provides stability to locally-organized events. WordPress global community sponsors have a single, centralized point of contact and are billed annually or quarterly, saving companies time and trouble. This year, we are offering three different sponsorship packages: Gold, Silver, and Bronze, each offered as an annual commitment. Each sponsorship level offers a certain level of visibility at WordCamps and Meetups. Recognizing that there have been many acquisitions and mergers in recent years, Gold-level sponsors can sign one sponsorship agreement but select one (1) company brand to be featured at each WordCamp (see section on costs and benefits for more information). \*Gold-level sponsors will be featured more prominently by the size of the logo and order, then Silver-level sponsors, and finally, Bronze. \*\*Free, reserved tickets will return to the general ticket pool if they are not claimed one month before WordCamp. Tickets reserved for sponsors should not be used for ticket giveaways; these are only for your company representatives who wish to attend the event. While the number of tickets offered will vary from WordCamp to WordCamp, Gold-level sponsors will be offered more free tickets, then Silver, then Bronze, and will depend on availability. \*\*\*As part of signing the sponsor agreement, the parent company will be the signor and will be asked to list all affiliated brands you would like represented at WordCamps. All entities are held to the same expectations as all global sponsors. Only one affiliated brand may be represented at the WordCamp and requires at least one (1) month advance notice to WordPress Community Support, PBC, and the WordCamp organizers as to which brand will be at the event. \*\*\*\*Not all WordCamp venues will have space to provide tables to sponsors, but if the venue has enough space to accommodate sponsor tables, then community sponsors will be offered exhibition space. If offered a table, Sponsors are asked to confirm in-person attendance at least one (1) month in advance to guarantee the space. Please see [Rules for Sponsor Materials](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/wordcamp-organizer/planning-details/fundraising/global-community-sponsorship-for-event-organizers/#rules-for-sponsor-materials) for more details about terms of sponsorship. Please also see our [sample sponsorship agreement](https://make.wordpress.org/community/files/2022/12/DRAFT-2023-WordPress-Global-Community-Sponsorship-Agreement-Template.pdf). [#global-sponsorship](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/global-sponsorship/), Proposed 2024 Global Community Sponsorship Program, Make WordPress Community, 01hbeatvhan6pyp72n09cbf38q.