Growing Our Community Together
A Family and Individual Sponsorship Guide for Fabulous Arts Foundation
For 16 years, FabAF has been a safe home for the LGBTQ+ community across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Grown from the roots of the Harvey Milk Festival, FabAF uses contemporary art, music, and film to build welcoming spaces where every person is seen, valued, and celebrated. [1]
From building the strong 925 Maddox Gallery + LGBTQ+ Center at 925 N. Lime Ave in Sarasota’s Limelight District, which grew even stronger after its roof was damaged by Hurricane Milton, to starting peer support and mental health care groups, FabAF is a vital anchor during hard times.
Why Sponsor as a Family or Individual
Direct family impact: Show your children and neighbors what active allyship looks like by standing up for local inclusion.
More than a donation: Become an active family sponsor, joining a community circle that shapes local arts and safety.
Funding real needs: Your support directly helps pay local artist stipends, keeps queer youth programs open, and funds mental health wellness care. [1, 2]
Together, families and individuals can help build a safer, kinder, and more vibrant Florida Suncoast.
Individual Sponsorship Opportunities
The Studio Circle
Tier 1: The Grassroots Tier
Perfect for neighbors, students, and community advocates who want to take a meaningful stand in solidarity with local LGBTQ+ culture.
Your steady, foundational support keeps our doors open and ensures that local creators and neighbors always have a safe, welcoming space to connect.
$10/MONTH
$100/YEAR
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Showcase your foundational support with an official "Founding Member" physical window decal and a digital membership card.
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Enjoy a 10% discount on entry fees to all regularly scheduled ticketed events at the 925 Maddox Center, including community panels and social gatherings.
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Secure your seats early with exclusive early-bird notifications and priority pre-sale ticket windows for major regional celebrations, including the Fabulous Independent Film Festival, Be Fabulous Pride, and Friendly City Pride.
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Stay deeply connected to our mission with a quarterly digital newsletter featuring exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes spotlights on our active artists-in-residence.
Neighborhood Champion
Tier 2: Studio & Festival Pass Tier
Designed for ultimate event-goers, film lovers, and families who love attending regional Pride festivals and exploring local art.
By bringing your energy to our studios and festivals, you help keep local storytelling alive and breathe vibrant, joyful life into our shared cultural home.
$25/MONTH
$250/YEAR
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An official "Founding Member" window decal and digital membership card to showcase your foundational support.
A 10% discount on admission to all regularly scheduled, ticketed events and community panels at the 925 Maddox Center.
Early-bird notifications and exclusive pre-sale ticket windows for all major local film and Pride festivals.
A quarterly digital newsletter featuring direct updates from the center and insider spotlights on our current artists-in-residence.
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Experience local cinema with two complimentary tickets to any standard film screening during the Fabulous Independent Film Festival, complete with VIP "skip-the-line" check-in privileges.
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Celebrate community visibility with complimentary VIP festival market entry or official commemorative merchandise bundles at both regional Pride events.
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Step inside the creative process with exclusive invitations to quarterly "Studio Night Mixers," where you can tour the 925 Maddox studios, meet resident artists, and preview works-in-progress before they debut.
Progress Partner
Tier 3: The Impact & All-Access Tier
Perfect for dedicated advocates and families who want to fiercely invest in uplifting trans, queer, and disabled creators while funding crucial community resources.
Your profound generosity directly changes lives by funding free mental health counseling and affirming peer support groups for those who need them most.
$50/MONTH
$500/YEAR
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An official "Founding Member" window decal and digital membership card to showcase your foundational support.
A 10% discount on admission to all regularly scheduled, ticketed events and community panels at the 925 Maddox Center.
Early-bird notifications and exclusive pre-sale ticket windows for all major local film and Pride festivals.
A quarterly digital newsletter featuring direct updates from the center and insider spotlights on our current artists-in-residence.
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Includes all foundational benefits from the previous tier.
Two complimentary tickets to standard film festival screenings paired with VIP "skip-the-line" fast-pass check-in.
A curated regional Pride package featuring either complimentary VIP festival market entry or official commemorative merchandise bundles.
Exclusive invitations to interactive "Studio Night Mixers" to tour the creative spaces and preview upcoming gallery artwork.
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Immerse yourself completely in the arts with full, unrestricted access to the Fabulous Independent Film Festival, including all film screenings, panel discussions, and filmmaker forums.
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Enjoy premium festival access with two VIP tickets providing entry to the exclusive main-stage viewing areas and comfortable VIP lounges at both regional Pride festivals.
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Build closer connections to the creators you support through private, intimate "Studio Table Talk" sessions to discuss identity, process, and creative practice directly with our Artist-in-Residence.
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See the direct power of your investment with a transparent annual impact metric breakdown detailing how your membership dues directly fund free community mental health services and peer support groups.
Civic Visionary
Tier 4: The Legacy Impact Tier
Perfect for passionate individual donors, regional philanthropists, and families looking to secure long-term permanence for our community center
Your extraordinary commitment cements the future of our center, guaranteeing that our shared legacy of laughter, light, and safety endures for generations to come.
$100+/MONTH
$1,000+/YEAR
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An official "Founding Member" window decal and digital membership card to showcase your foundational support.
A 10% discount on admission to all regularly scheduled, ticketed events and community panels at the 925 Maddox Center.
Early-bird notifications and exclusive pre-sale ticket windows for all major local film and Pride festivals.
A quarterly digital newsletter featuring direct updates from the center and insider spotlights on our current artists-in-residence.
-
Includes all foundational benefits from the previous tier.
Two complimentary tickets to standard film festival screenings paired with VIP "skip-the-line" fast-pass check-in.
A curated regional Pride package featuring either complimentary VIP festival market entry or official commemorative merchandise bundles.
Exclusive invitations to interactive "Studio Night Mixers" to tour the creative spaces and preview upcoming gallery artwork.
-
An all-access pass granting unrestricted entry to all films, panel discussions, and filmmaker forums during the film festival.
Two premium VIP passes to the exclusive main-stage viewing areas and private lounges at both regional Pride festivals.
Private, intimate "Studio Table Talk" sessions to engage directly with resident artists regarding their creative process and inspiration.
An annual impact metric breakdown showing exactly how your membership dues fund local mental health and peer support resources.
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Experience our premier events to the fullest with two comprehensive All-Access VIP Passes to the film and Pride festivals, complete with entry to exclusive opening night afterparties and artist receptions.
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Anchor your commitment to regional culture by sponsoring an annual Artist Residency Cycle or a designated creative community workshop block with premium naming rights to uplift local creators.
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Enjoy high-level fellowship at an exclusive annual dinner or cocktail reception alongside the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, featured festival headliners, and resident artists.
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Honor your long-term dedication to civic growth with a prominent, permanent logo or name placement on the physical Legacy Mural inside the 925 Maddox Center, anchoring your support as a foundational pillar of local arts.
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:
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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.
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Providing peer support networks, support groups, and specialized creative wellness workshops tailored specifically for underrepresented and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
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Fostering connection and community-centered storytelling by bringing together indie filmmakers, youth creators, and regional audiences for an immersive multi-day experience.
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Vibrant community traditions uniting local small businesses, artisans, and performers in a joyful, safe public celebration of equity and justice.
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Providing regular multidisciplinary spaces, such as intergenerational art shows and spoken word events, where connection is forged when the community needs it most.