Visit Thief River Falls has the ability to provide Event Marketing Sponsorship Funding. These funds are to be used to attract out-of-town visitors to Thief River Falls. This funding must be used to fund marketing and promotion of event in media that reaches primarily out of town visitors. Priority will be given to events that encourage overnight visitation. Events must also be open to the public.

Visit Thief River Falls is the tourism marketing organization for the Thief River Falls area. Our organization does not broker hotel rooms for leisure travelers or groups of any kind. Room block creation and communication needs to be made directly with the hotel property, as they have full decision-making control over their room reservations.

Sponsorship Application and Evaluation FAQs:

• Q: When should I apply? A: Complete and submit the Event Marketing Sponsorship Application to Visit Thief River Falls Executive Director, Amanda Hughes, no less than 2 months prior to event. The Visit Thief River Falls Board of Directors will make the funding decision at their next board meeting (held the second Tuesday of each month.)
• Q: What kind of advertising qualifies for funding? A: The following marketing expenses are eligible for funding: 1) Printing & postage of promotional materials and 2) Marketing, advertising and promotion of events in markets that are 50 miles outside of Thief River Falls. Local media is ineligible.
• Q: Do I need to recognize Visit Thief River Falls as a sponsor? A: Visit Thief River Falls must be recognized as a sponsor by using their logo on ALL material that the funding is used for. (For example: If applying for funding to use in a print ad, the Visit Thief River Falls logo must appear on that print ad. If applying for funding to print posters, the Visit Thief River Falls logo must appear on the poster. If applying for radio or social media ads, the ad copy must include: "Sponsored in part by Visit Thief River Falls.") There will be no exceptions. Being Visit Thief River Falls is funded by the 3% Lodging Tax collected at all seven Thief River Falls hotels and the City Campground, all lodging tax expenditures must promote all hotels equally. Therefore, all Visit Thief River Falls funded event advertisements must include the following: "For lodging options, go to www.visittrf.com." The Visit Thief River Falls banner must be prominently displayed at the event. The banner can be picked up at the Visit Thief River Falls office located at: 102 Main Avenue N, Thief River Falls, MN.
• Q: When will I receive the funds? A: The reimbursement will be disbursed when the Evaluation Form is completed and the marketing receipts & tear sheets have been submitted to the Visit Thief River Falls office. They are due within 45 days after the event. Visit Thief River Falls will then review the documents and reimburse the applicant if the expense matches the application and meets funding criteria. Please note: Visit Thief River Falls may withdraw funding or request the return of funds for events which are substantially reduced or inaccurately portrayed in the application.

Download the Visit Thief River Falls Event Marketing Sponsorship Application below & contact Executive Director, Amanda Hughes with any questions:

Phone: 218-686-9785

Email: info@visittrf.com

Office Location: Carnegie Library, 102 Main Avenue North, Thief River Falls, MN.

Click here to download: 2024 Visit TRF - Event Marketing Sponsorship Application.pdf