eXtension Sponsorship Policy

Sponsorship is a cash or in-kind fee paid to eXtension in return for access to the organization’s audience. The sponsorship relationship is based on a business proposal with mutually agreed rights and benefits for both parties. Sponsorships will help eXtension achieve its financial goals.

Revenue from sponsorships will be reinvested in the web site, educational services, local programming, and other resources Cooperative Extension provides. This policy was developed to protect and maintain the character and integrity of content throughout the eXtension.org domain while creating revenue to expand funding needs.

eXtension’s sponsorship program will operate under the following guidelines:

• Sponsorship policies will be approved by the eXtension Foundation and implemented by staff.
• Sponsors support eXtension’s mission, vision, values, and principles.
• Sponsors will have no control of content and their sponsorship does not need to relate to the content they are sponsoring.
• Sponsors may market their company brand but will not be allowed to market a specific product or promotion.
• Users will be able to link to a sponsor’s page, but will have one click access back to the eXtension page.
• Sponsors will be second to content on the web pages.

eXtension sponsors must agree to the following criteria:

• eXtension has the right to review and approve all sponsorship material and retains the right to approve or disprove and remove, if necessary, unacceptable information.
• eXtension sponsors will operate in a manner that is consistent with our collection and use of personal data.
• Sponsors must have a privacy policy that is clearly posted and linked on their home page.
• If personal information is gathered, it must comply with privacy laws, state how information will be used, secured safely, and sponsor may not disclose the information to other entities.
• The following sponsor material is inappropriate for eXtension.org and will not be accepted under any circumstances. (This list is for illustrative purposes and does not include all types of material that eXtension may find objectionable).
  • Illicit drugs
  • Pornography/ adult content/ adult themes
  • Gambling
  • Political entities or messages
  • Religious materials promoting conversion to or participation
  • Material that violates laws, rules or regulations
  • Material that is disguised as editorial content
  • An implied affiliation for favored status with Cooperative Extension System
  • Messages that, in the opinion of eXtension, are offensive or in poor taste.
  • Other items may be determined inappropriate by the eXtension Foundation.

• Pop-up or pop-unders are prohibited
• Audio and/or video clips must begin and be able to end with user initiation.
• Messages must allow users to return to eXtension.org with one click.
• Sponsor agrees to the eXtension Terms of Agreement: http://www.extension.org/pages/eXtension_Terms_of_Use

In reviewing online sponsorship material, eXtension will consider editorial appropriateness, design, representation, and alignment with sponsor, and will protect and maintain the character and integrity of the Cooperative Extension System.

April 19, 2007

For More information please contact:

Betty Johnson, CFRE
Development officer, eXtension initiative
812.330.1339
betty.johnson@extension.org