Uplifting Our Community Together

A Partnership Guide for Local Businesses & The Fabulous Arts Foundation

For 16 years, FabAF has served as a vital catalyst for the LGBTQ+ community across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Born out of the legacy of the Harvey Milk Festival, FabAF uses the transformative power of contemporary art, music, and film to cultivate safe, affirming creative spaces where every individual feels seen, supported, and celebrated.

From establishing the resilient 925 Maddox Gallery + LGBTQ+ Center, which persisted and expanded after its roof was torn off by Hurricane Milton, to launching crucial peer support and mental health wellness initiatives, FabAF provides the life-affirming foundation our community relies on during tough times.

Local business owners are the bedrock of this mission. When you step up as a partner, you are not just purchasing a package; you are directly investing in local artist stipends, accessible queer youth programming, and vital mental health care funds. Together, we build a more inclusive, resilient, and beautiful Florida Suncoast.

Business Partnership Opportunities

Community Ally

A barista preparing coffee behind a counter in a cafe, with four menuboard signs for wine, beer, hot and cold drinks hanging on the wall.

Tier 1: The Micro-Business Tier

Perfect for local cafes, independent shops, and freelancers wanting to stand in solidarity.

By anchoring the foundation of our network, grassroots businesses ensure that local creators have accessible resources year-round.

$35/MONTH

$350/YEAR

  • Share your values with your audience using a beautifully designed "Proud Business Ally" digital badge for your website, emails, and social media.

  • Grow your local network and help community members find you through a dedicated listing in our online business directory.

  • Treat your hard-working team to a fun day out with 10% off up to four tickets to our annual Be Fabulous Music & Arts PRIDE Fest.

  • Enjoy a 10% discount on hosting your next business meeting, team-building event, or private mixer inside the beautiful 925 Maddox Gallery.

Become a community ally

Suncoast Partner

A group of friends sitting around a wooden table in a modern, cozy restaurant kitchen having a conversation. Some bottles of beer and bowls are on the table.

Tier 2: The Visibility Tier

Designed for established local businesses looking to champion physical and digital equity.

Your business directly helps sustain free and low-cost community-centered arts programming throughout the region.

$75/MONTH

$750/YEAR

    • Custom "Proud Business Ally" digital badge for your website and social media profiles.

    • Dedicated business listing in our online public community directory to boost local SEO.

    • A 10% team discount on up to four tickets to the Be Fabulous Music & Arts PRIDE Fest.

    • A 10% venue rental discount for business meetings or mixers at the 925 Maddox Gallery.

  • Secure continuous visibility with your small logo featured in the FABAF website footer and on our monthly email dispatches.

  • Gain exposure to festival-goers with your business logo listed in the digital programs for both the Film Festival and Pride Fests.

  • Build powerful community connections with 2 complimentary tickets to our quarterly "Studio Night Mixers" to network with fellow local business sponsors.

Become a suncoast partner

Champion of Culture

A person is holding a key with a rainbow heart-shaped keychain against a blurred outdoor background, smiling

Tier 3: The Event Activator Tier

Designed for corporate allies, law firms, real estate groups, and medical offices ready to activate positive social change.

This tier directly funds mental health initiatives and creative sanctuary spaces for those navigating hardship.

$150/MONTH

$1,500/YEAR

    • Custom "Proud Business Ally" digital badge for your website and social media profiles.

    • Dedicated business listing in our online public community directory to boost local SEO.

    • A 10% team discount on up to four tickets to the Be Fabulous Music & Arts PRIDE Fest.

    • A 10% venue rental discount for business meetings or mixers at the 925 Maddox Gallery.

    • Small logo placement featured on the FABAF website footer and monthly email dispatches.

    • Business logo listing in the digital programs for both the Film Festival and Pride Fests.

    • Two tickets to quarterly "Studio Night Mixers" to network with other local business sponsors.

  • Let us introduce you to our community through two tailored appreciation posts across the official FabAF social media channels.

  • Put your brand in the spotlight with a custom logo slide showcased on the big screen before every film screening at the Fabulous Independent Film Festival (FIFF).

  • Introduce your business to thousands of passionate local supporters with a free standard vendor booth space at either of our annual Pride Festivals.

  • Reward your team or top clients with 4 exclusive VIP Passes to the premium Pride VIP Lounge.

Become a culture champion

Champion of Culture

Exterior of a bank building with large glass windows reflecting palm trees, and a sign that reads 'Bank OZK' in white letters on a black background.

Tier 4: The Premier Presenting Tier

For major regional brands, banks, and hospital networks striving to leave a lasting, transformative community legacy.

Your premier corporate stewardship guarantees that safe spaces, community panels, and emergency healing infrastructure remain operational and fully accessible.

$300/MONTH

$3,000/YEAR

    • Custom "Proud Business Ally" digital badge for your website and social media profiles.

    • Dedicated business listing in our online public community directory to boost local SEO.

    • A 10% team discount on up to four tickets to the Be Fabulous Music & Arts PRIDE Fest.

    • A 10% venue rental discount for business meetings or mixers at the 925 Maddox Gallery.

    • Small logo placement featured on the FABAF website footer and monthly email dispatches.

    • Business logo listing in the digital programs for both the Film Festival and Pride Fests.

    • Two tickets to quarterly "Studio Night Mixers" to network with other local business sponsors.

    • A complimentary standard vendor booth space at either Be Fabulous Pride or Friendly City Pride.

    • A dedicated logo slide displayed on-screen before all film screenings at the Fabulous Independent Film Festival.

    • Two dedicated, custom "Sponsor Spotlight" posts per year across FABAF’s active social media channels.

    • Four exclusive VIP Passes to the premium Pride VIP Lounge for your team or top clients.

  • Align your brand with local culture through premium "Sponsored by [Your Business]" naming rights for a workshop block or artist residency cycle, directly supporting grassroots creativity and education.

  • Honor your long-term dedication to the community with a prominent, permanent logo placement on the physical Legacy Mural, anchoring your brand as a foundational pillar of local arts and culture.

Become a legacy visionary

The Amazing Work of FabAF: Where Your Support Goes

Every partnership contribution directly fuels the year-round, life-changing programming curated by Executive Director & Founder Shannon Fortner and the FabAF team:

  • Operating in the emerging Limelight Arts District, this newly expanded, ADA-compliant sanctuary space houses dedicated artist studios, community potlucks, and a private mental health room.

  • Providing peer support networks, support groups, and specialized creative wellness workshops tailored specifically for underrepresented and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

  • Fostering connection and community-centered storytelling by bringing together indie filmmakers, youth creators, and regional audiences for an immersive multi-day experience.

  • Vibrant community traditions uniting local small businesses, artisans, and performers in a joyful, safe public celebration of equity and justice.

  • Providing regular multidisciplinary spaces, such as intergenerational art shows and spoken word events, where connection is forged when the community needs it most.

individual membership opportunities