Event Funding

The North Tahoe Chamber funds local events through TOT-TBID Dollars At Work that bring the character and spirit of our communities to life for residents and visitors. Sponsorships are awarded based on how the events impact the economic health, community vitality, and environmental stewardship of North Lake Tahoe.

2025 Event Funding

Events that received 2025 funding promote community vitality, environmental stewardship, and economic health in the region. Each event’s traffic management and sustainability plan are also evaluated, with organizers responsible for identifying and outlining how they will mitigate the impacts of attendees on the community and the environment.

Upcoming events include:

A Liars Cruise – October 4, 2025

Tahoe Literary Festival – October 10-11, 2025

Made in Tahoe Fall Festival – October 11-12, 2025

Passport to Dining – November 6, 2025

Tahoe Film Fest – December 4-7, 2025

Tahoe Nutcracker 2025 – December 19-21, 2025

View All 2025 Funded Events

2026 Event Funding Applications

Round 1 Event Funding
By invitation only for events that the North Tahoe Chamber has funded for 2 or more years.
Applications open September 30-October 17.

Round 2 Event Funding
Available to all events requesting funding for the first time or that received one year of funding through the North Tahoe Chamber. Applicants will apply through Submittable, our grant application platform.
Applications open December 5-January 9.

View 2026 Event Sponsorship Guidelines below.

Purpose and Investment Philosophy

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Event Funding Process

Evaluation Framework

All events are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Round 2 (New Events – 2 Years):
Evaluated and measured against the three pillars, with committee scoring based on:

Economic Health: Attendee spending (lodging, restaurants, retail), local vendor use, workforce hiring, nonprofit partnerships.
Community Vitality: Collaboration with stakeholders, staffing balance, accessibility, safety, and enhancing resident quality of life.
Environmental Stewardship: Sustainability practices (waste reduction, refill stations, transit, clean-up days, local sourcing) and environmental stewardship messaging and education.

Round 1 (Established Events > 2 Years):
Evaluation includes the three pillars plus an added component of ROI.

Formulas Used:

Economic Impact Sample Formula:
(Local Attendees [locals and second homeowners] × $100) + (Visitors [utilize overnight lodging] × $275) × Event Days
ROI Formula:
Economic Impact ÷ Sponsorship Investment

Additional Information for Round 1 – Invitation Only

Who: Events funded for at least two years.
Application: Simplified (event name, dates, location, funding request, attendance, budget).
Evaluation: Committee considers performance against the three pillars, ROI and economic impact, past performance, previous Submittable scores, and discussion.
Funding Cap: Up to $50,000, not exceeding 50% of the total budget.
Timeline:
- Application Available: September 30
- Application Due: October 17
- Committee Meeting Review: TBD
- NTCA Board Approval: December 3
Exception: If new event date falls before March 4, it may be moved into Round 1. Contact Carly McNiece (carly@northtahoecommunityalliance.com) for the consideration to be moved.

Additional Information for Round 2 – Open Application

Who: All new events and those funded for the first time or have received funding for only one year.
Application: Traditional Submittable application required.
Evaluation: Full scoring against the three pillars (Economic Health, Community Vitality, Environmental Stewardship) and committee discussion.
Presentation: All new event producers must present to the Business & Chamber Advisory Committee during the Round 2 review on Jan. 13.
Funding Cap: Up to $15,000, not exceeding 50% of the total budget.
Timeline:
- Application Available: December 5
- Application Due: January 9
- New event presentations: Jan. 13
- Committee Meeting Review: February 10
- NTCA Board Approval: March 4

Round 2 Scoring Criteria

I. Economic Health – 35 Points

A. Regional Impact

Amount spent in the region (e.g., Placer County lodging for the crew, use of local vendors/production/catering/rentals, hiring local workforce).
Attendee spending (e.g., Placer County lodging, restaurants, and retail).
Support for longer stays, shoulder season visitation, and attraction to the mountains in summer and the lake in winter.
Event benefits a local nonprofit.

B. Marketing Value – Event producers to provide the following marketing placements:

North Tahoe Chamber Logo placement.
Sponsorship acknowledgments.
Print ad placements in event programs.
Hashtags in all social posts.
Dedicated social posts and email placements.
Images, video, and commercial placements.
Post-event survey questions.
PA announcements throughout the event.
Banner display at the event.
8.5 x 11 flyer for VIC window display.
Event amenities such as tickets.
Premier location for booth focused on Environmental Stewardship.
Direct links to Go Tahoe North if needed.
Recap with proof of run included.
Increase brand awareness of North Lake Tahoe.

C. Size of Reach: Marketing audience size across all platforms (social media, YouTube, website, newsletter/eblast).

II. Community Vitality – 35 Points

Staffing Plan: Ratio of paid vs. volunteer staff, ensuring adequate personnel to host the event.
Collaboration: Engagement with local organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and stakeholders.
Community Spirit: Positive reviews, testimonials, and event promoter scores.
Attendance: Number of local vs. visitor attendees; participants vs. spectators.
Quality of Life: Enhances the quality of life for residents.
Safety: Considers traffic management, emergency response plan, security, water refill stations, and heat/cold management.
Accessibility: Welcoming to all, including accommodations for people with disabilities.

III. Environmental Stewardship – 35 Points

Green Standards: Event meets green event industry standards.
Sustainability: Promotes environmental sustainability by collaborating with nonprofits such as Keep Tahoe Blue or League to Save Lake Tahoe, or professional green organizations.
Sustainable Practices: Follows sustainable event practices and zero waste guidelines by reducing single-use items, going paperless, and providing refillable bottle stations.
Waste Management: Provides recycling bins, minimizes waste production, and offers composting services.
Eco-friendly Materials: Uses eco-friendly and reusable materials.
Energy Conservation: Hosts at LEED-certified venues or venues that use solar energy.
Transportation: Encourages the use of public transportation and provides specific information on how to use local public transit.
Eco-friendly Transportation: Provides bike valet and incentives for carpooling and ride-sharing.
Carbon Offset: Invests in carbon offset programs.
Non-toxic Products: Uses non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products.
Noise Management: Minimizes noise pollution to reduce impacts on local neighborhoods and wildlife.
Environmental Education: Provides opportunities for environmental education and outreach.
Tourism Mitigation: Minimizes visitor impact by organizing clean-up days and restoring trails.
Local Sourcing: Prioritizes local vendors, materials, and food products.
Water Events: If the event is near water, provides educational materials on invasive species or hosts a League to Save Lake Tahoe invasive species training as part of the event.

Funding Disbursement

Reporting and Accountability

2025 Funded Events

2024 Funded Events

2023 Funded Events

2025 Event Funding

2026 Event Funding Applications

I. Economic Health – 35 Points

II. Community Vitality – 35 Points

III. Environmental Stewardship – 35 Points

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