Donations // Sponsorships Rolling Deadline

New Orleans Pelicans – Community Donation & Sponsorship Requests (2026)

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In-Kind Support, Event Sponsorships, and Appearances for Local Nonprofits

The New Orleans Pelicans are committed to supporting charitable organizations across their territory and making a meaningful community impact. Eligible nonprofits may request in-kind support, event sponsorships, or appearances through the Pelicans’ official Giving Request Portal.

Organization: New Orleans Pelicans
Support Type: In-kind donations, event sponsorships, appearances (no cash grants)
Geographic Focus: Louisiana and areas within a 150-mile radius of the Smoothie King Center (New Orleans)

About the Funder

As Louisiana’s NBA team, the New Orleans Pelicans prioritize community engagement and philanthropy across the region. Through donations, sponsorships, and appearances, the organization supports nonprofit partners whose work strengthens local communities.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered, organizations must:

Be a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit for at least two (2) years
Operate within the Pelicans’ territory (Louisiana + 150-mile radius of the Smoothie King Center)
Submit requests directly from organizational leadership (no third-party or pass-through fundraising)
Limit requests to one (1) fulfillment per calendar year
Complete the online application in full

Supporting documentation (e.g., IRS letter, Form 990, program/event details) may be sent to PelicansGive@pelicans.com.

What This Program Supports

The Pelicans consider requests for:

Event sponsorships
Charitable auction items (Pelicans-donated items only; not for resale for profit)
Appearances and speaking engagements
Mascot (Pierre) and Dance Krewe (Pelsquad) appearances

All promotional or media exposure must be approved by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Lead Time Requirements

Event Sponsorships & Memorabilia: Submit at least 10 weeks prior to the event
Appearances & Speaking Requests: Submit at least 8 weeks prior
Mascot & Dance Krewe Requests: Submit at least 6 weeks prior

Due to high volume, the Pelicans cannot provide interim status updates; all submissions will receive a final decision.

Memorabilia Guidelines

Requests for autographed items for giveaways, prizes, or gifts are not accepted
Donated items must be used for charitable auctions only and not sold for profit
Outside merchandise for autographs is not accepted; unsolicited items will be returned

Safety & Logistics (for Appearances)

The Pelicans reserve the right to leave any event deemed unsafe or harmful
Parking and water must be provided for performers
All promotional and media use requires prior approval

Timeline

📅 Application Timeline: Rolling / ongoing
📅 Typical Lead Time: 6–10 weeks, depending on request type

Application / Request Process

All requests must be submitted through the Pelicans’ Giving Request Portal. Requests sent by phone, email, or mail will be redirected to the portal.

Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://www.nba.com/pelicans/community/donation-requests

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This program is a strong fit for organizations that:

Serve communities in Louisiana or the greater New Orleans region
Are planning well in advance and meet required lead times
Can utilize in-kind support, sponsorships, or appearances
Have experienced nonprofit leadership and clear community impact

Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Rolling
Support Provided: In-kind support, sponsorships, appearances
Restrictions: One request per organization per year; no cash donations