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Annual Luncheon

Sponsorship Opportunities

View our 2026 Annual Luncheon sponsorship opportunities to see how you or your organization can support this year’s event.

Why Sponsor?

Young child playing with string toyStart Early’s Annual Luncheon provides an exclusive opportunity for a sponsor – whether a business or individual – to demonstrate its commitment to youth and families to hundreds of noteworthy individuals.

As an event sponsor you will also:

  • Demonstrate commitment to providing early learning opportunities to young children, primarily those born into under-resourced communities, and their families
  • Access to an A-list group of registrants, such as business, civic and philanthropic leaders, donors, partners, Start Early’s Board of Directors and other sponsors with pre-event and post-event marketing and communications and in programming materials during the event

Click or scroll down to view sponsorship opportunities, benefits and a list of our past sponsors:

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities | Individual Sponsorship Opportunities

For sponsorship questions, email StartEarlyEvents@StartEarly.org.

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Presenting Sponsor | $100,000

  • Recognized as the Presenting Sponsor
  • Presenting designation and company logo below event title used in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials.
  • 20 tickets to the event

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Additional Benefits:

  • Recognized from podium during the event
  • Dedicated social media posts pre-luncheon – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (distribution to approximately 36,000)
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

Champion Sponsor | $50,000+

  • Recognition as a Start Early Champion Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Additional Benefits:

  • Recognized from podium during the event
  • Recognition in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Dedicated social media posts pre-luncheon – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (distribution to approximately 36,000)
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

Premier Sponsor | $25,000+

  • Recognition as a Premier Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Additional Benefits:

  • Recognition in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Dedicated social media posts pre-luncheon – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (distribution to approximately 36,000)
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

 

Partner Sponsor | $10,000+

  • Recognition as a Partner Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event
  • Recognition in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Community Sponsor | $5,000+

  • Recognition as a Community Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event
  • Recognition in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Individual Sponsorship Opportunities

Presenting Sponsor | $100,000

  • Recognition as Start Early Presenting Sponsor
  • Presenting designation (name) below event title used in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials.
  • 20 tickets to the event

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Additional Benefits:

  • Recognized from podium during the event
  • Dedicated social media posts pre-luncheon – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (distribution to approximately 36,000)
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

Champion Sponsor | $50,000+

  • Recognition as a Start Early Champion Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Additional Benefits:

  • Recognized from podium during the event
  • Name recognition on all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Dedicated social media posts pre-luncheon – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (distribution to approximately 36,000)
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

Premier Sponsor | $25,000+

  • Recognition as a Premier Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Additional Benefits:

  • Dedicated social media posts pre-luncheon – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (distribution to approximately 36,000)
  • Name recognition in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

Partner Sponsor | $10,000+

  • Recognition as a Partner Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event
  • Name recognition in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

Community Sponsor | $5,000+

  • Recognition as a Community Sponsor
  • 10 tickets to the event
  • Name recognized in all Annual Luncheon printed & digital materials
  • Inclusion in Start Early Year in Review and on Donor Wall at Start Early Headquarters

 

Secure Your Sponsorship

2026 Annual Luncheon Sponsors

A special thank you to our corporate and individual sponsors whose commitment to our mission is helping more children reach their full potential.


VISIONARY

Rauner Family Foundation
Zell Family Foundation


PRESENTING

$100,000

Kent & Liz Dauten
Karen Rudolph & David Donnini
Anne & Don Edwards
Karen Michael & Jacqueline Ferro
Mary & Paul Finnegan
Leslie Graham & Louis Kenter
Leslie Bluhm & David Helfand
Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation
Erika Pearsall & Ned Jannotta
Cece & Tom Ricketts
Collin & Joanna Roche
Wilson/Garling Foundation


CHAMPION

$50,000

 

BMO logo Oberhelman Foundation & Cullinan Properties, 2023 Annual Luncheon Sponsor

Nancy & Steve Crown | The Crown Family
James & Karen Frank
Kenneth C. Griffin
The Hasten Foundation
Malott Family Foundation


PREMIER

$25,000

 

 

Related Midwest, 2023 Annual Luncheon Sponsor

Dave & Jane Casper
Bobbie & Charlie Denison
Marilyn & Larry Fields
Tom Gimbel
Golder Family
David & Gerri Kahnweiler
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Keiser
Anne Lovett & Stephen Woodsum
Sue & Steve Mandel
Deborah & Stephen Quazzo
Diana & Michael Sands
Catherine Siegel


PARTNER

$10,000

Abbott
Ellen Alberding & Kelly Welsh
CME Group Foundation

Harris Family Foundation
ITW
Klaff Family Foundation
PNC
Port Capital LLC & Brien O’Brien
Martha & Scott Smith
Steans Family Foundation
Pritzker Traubert Foundation
PwC


COMMUNITY

$5,000

Susan & Stephen Baird
Boeing
Linda & Peter Bynoe
Constellation
Terri & Bob DiMeo

Judy & Jamie Dimon
The Dolores Kohl Education Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Rodney L. Goldstein
Rachel & Devin Gross

Maxwell Gunnill
Cabray Haines & David Kiley
Mary Ittelson
J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Linda & Laurence Levine
Charles & Brunetta Matthews
Susan Blankenbaker Noyes
O’Keefe Family
Rothkopf Family Foundation

Halee Sage & David Friedman
Ken & Kathy Tallering
Anne & John Tuohy
Susan & Bill White


GIFTS

$2,500-$4,999

Patricia Cox
The Resurrection Project
WTTW | WFMT

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Questions?

Have questions about the 2026 Annual Luncheon sponsorship opportunities? Reach out to our team.

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Become a Sponsor

Together, when we start early, we can close the opportunity gap and ensure every child has a chance to reach their full potential.

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Our Impact

Learn more about how we are supporting children, families and early childhood professionals as we improve the state of early learning in America.

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If you have any questions or need assistance while securing your sponsorship, please reach out to our team.

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