The Co-Sponsorship Policy allows for groups that provide services closely associated with the goals and objectives of the City’s General Plan to receive certain City benefits. A co-sponsored group is a non-profit and tax-exempt organization that is officially recognized by the City of Sunnyvale. The group is independent in its organizational structure, provides a community service, or promotes an informed interest in the City’s objectives, services, facilities and programs for the benefit of its residents; and/or has as its purpose the raising of funds and provision of financial support for the City’s program. All groups accorded co-sponsorship status must submit a completed application annually and comply with the terms of Co-Sponsorship Policy.

Typically, co-sponsorship applications are reviewed by Parks and Recreation staff and forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Commission for their review and approval. The Parks and Recreation Commission then considers co-sponsorship applications and reviews staff evaluations based on the submitted application. Determinations of Co-Sponsorship status include: (1) full, (2) affiliated, or (3) associated.

Because the purpose of the SLDI does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Commission, review and approval of the application falls to the City Council.

Prior to 1999, the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce administered the Leadership and Education Foundation, which ran the Leadership Sunnyvale Program. This community development program was designed to enhance the skills of those involved in our community. The program seeks to broaden its participants’ awareness of complex community issues, to strengthen their leadership skills, and to increase their effectiveness in both the community and the workplace. Since its inception, many participants in this program have become City Councilmembers or Board and Commission members.

In 1999, the Chamber Board of Directors determined it would no longer administer the Leadership Sunnyvale program. Some of the members decided to create a non-partisan charitable organization, SLDI. In June 1999, SLDI was formed as an independent 501(c) non-profit organization, to administer the existing Leadership and Education Foundation. The program administered under SLDI is called Leadership Sunnyvale.

Full Co-Sponsored Groups are eligible to receive:

• Scheduling of school, park, or City facilities on a first priority basis after City scheduled activities and consistent with City policy on facility use.
• Printing of flyers, programs, tickets, stationery and other projects on request and within the City’s available resources.
• Free listing of organization’s name, contact person and telephone number in activity guides and dissemination of information to the public through conventional means.
• Assistance with newspaper publicity upon request and as City resources are available.
• Provision for occasional supervision of activities if requested and approved in advance and if within City’s available resources.
• Provision of a staff liaison.

2. Affiliated Co-Sponsorship Status requires that at least 55% of the organization’s members be residents of the City of Sunnyvale.

Affiliated Co-Sponsored Groups are eligible to receive:

• Scheduling of school, park, or City facilities on a second priority basis after City scheduled activities and after fully co-sponsored groups, and consistent with City policy on facility use.
• One annual printing for membership solicitation on request and within the City’s available resources.
• Free listing of organization’s name, contact person and telephone number in activity guides and dissemination of information to the public through conventional means.

3. Associated Co-Sponsorship Status requires that a minimum of 15% of the organization’s membership be residents of the City of Sunnyvale.

Associated Co-Sponsored Groups are eligible to receive:

• Assistance in locating suitable public facilities based on availability.
• Free listing of organization’s name, contact person and telephone number in activity guides.

Following the Department of Parks and Recreation Co-Sponsorship Application Instructions, derived from Co-Sponsorship Policy 7.2.6, applicants are asked to submit the following:

1. Completed questionnaire
2. Statement of Compliance for Co-Sponsorship, signed by the organization president
3. Resolution/Certification, reviewed by the Board of Directors and signed by the Organization President/Chair of the Board of Directors
4. Copy of current liability insurance coverage stating coverage amounts, policy period, and naming the City of Sunnyvale as an "additional insured," or a request for wavier with detailed back up
5. Copy of enabling documents (e.g., Articles of Incorporation, Constitution or By-Laws), if there are changes.
6. Completed Facilities Usage Form for the time period July 1, 2002 – December 31, 2003.

The Sunnyvale Leadership Development Institute is a non-profit public benefits corporation. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes. SLDI is organized to conduct educational workshops, seminars and other programs designed to develop and enhance the leadership potential in the business, government, educational, and nonprofit sectors of the City of Sunnyvale’s civic community.

SLDI currently operates a nine-month program titled Leadership Sunnyvale. This program allows participants to expand their perspective on issues affecting the community and to enhance the skills needed to become more effectively involved in civic and community-based affairs.

The SLDI develops the skills in individuals to be resources in the community by developing empowered citizens to become effective leaders through training on the fundamentals of leadership skills and community awareness. The objective of this organization is to enhance the leadership potential in the private, non-profit, educational, and governmental sectors of Sunnyvale’s community.

A founding principal of SLDI is that the program remain independent of affiliation with any organization or individual, partisan or non-partisan, sectarian or non-sectarian, and that it incorporates a broad diversity of individuals, both as participants and as members of the Board of Trustees.

Leadership Sunnyvale develops the leadership potential that exists within the Sunnyvale community and generates an expanded base of knowledge for future leaders in our community. Developing civic leaders and informed citizens helps to ensure a strong pool of talented individuals to participate on Sunnyvale’s Boards and Commissions, as well as a non-profit or charitable efforts.

Members of SLDI have a minimum age requirement of eighteen. Over eighty-five percent of SLDI’s Board of Directors and an average of eighty-five percent of the past Leadership Sunnyvale class lived within the City of Sunnyvale.

SLDI is a non-profit organization qualifying for tax-exempt status. Its operations are expected to be funded by the following: (1) Tuition*, (2) anticipated City of Sunnyvale Outside Group Funding, (3) Corporate Sponsors, (4) Individual Donations and (5) In-Kind Donations.

*SLDI charges $1,500 per student per class year, however, SLDI will make every effort to find funding for those individuals who cannot pay tuition. SLDI seeks donations to provide scholarships and financial aid and encourages businesses to pay the tuition of their employees attending the program. In the past two years, the City sponsored four participants.