The Founders Program

Become Part of the Foundation

The Founders Program recognizes the original sponsors and early supporters helping build The Marque Awards into the premier recognition platform for retail automotive excellence.

Founding Sponsors receive Permanent Recognition on the Founders page, founder credits, event invitations, and marketing visibility based on selected tier. Each tier is a one-time, non-recurring sponsorship commitment designed for those who want to stand behind the future of professional recognition in retail automotive.

Become a Founding Sponsor View Founder Tiers

Sponsorship does not influence nominations, judging, ratings, editorial coverage, finalist selection, or award outcomes.

Founding Premier Sponsor artwork for The Marque Awards

Original Sponsors · Permanent Recognition

A premium launch-era recognition position for the brands helping establish the institution.

Founders

The Original Foundation of The Marque Awards

The Founders Program is reserved for the individuals, dealerships, lenders, vendors, and industry partners who believe retail automotive professionals deserve a higher standard of recognition. These founding sponsors are not buying awards. They are helping establish the platform, visibility, and infrastructure behind an independent recognition and media institution built for the people who drive the dealership world forward.

Founding Sponsor Benefits

What each tier can include

Permanent Recognition on the Founders page

Founder credits on website and launch materials

Marketing visibility based on tier

Special invitations to Marque Awards events

Digital founder badge

Priority access to future sponsorship opportunities by tier

Founder Tiers

Choose Your Founder Level

Each Founding Sponsor tier is a one-time, non-recurring sponsorship commitment with recognition and visibility benefits based on level.

Supporter

Founding Supporter

$2,500

For individual professionals, small vendors, dealership supporters, and early believers.

Permanent Recognition on the Founders page
Founder credit on select website materials
3 months of marketing space
4 special invitations to the first Marque Awards event
Founding Supporter digital badge

Founder visibility and sponsored placements are subject to brand standards, availability, and compliance review. Sponsorship never affects nominations, judging, ratings, editorial coverage, finalist selection, or award outcomes.

Partner

Founding Partner

$5,000

For vendors, lenders, agencies, dealerships, and early commercial partners seeking stronger launch visibility.

Permanent Recognition on the Founders page
Enhanced founder credit on website and launch materials
3 months of marketing space
4 special invitations to the first Marque Awards event
Founding Partner digital badge
Mention in launch announcement or founder recognition section

Founder visibility and sponsored placements are subject to brand standards, availability, and compliance review. Sponsorship never affects nominations, judging, ratings, editorial coverage, finalist selection, or award outcomes.

Patron

Founding Patron

$10,000

For serious industry partners seeking premium launch visibility and deeper brand association.

Permanent Recognition on the Founders page
Premium founder credit on website, media, and event materials where applicable
6 months of marketing space
4 special invitations to the first Marque Awards event
Founding Patron digital badge
Priority consideration for a podcast or interview feature, clearly labeled if sponsored

Founder visibility and sponsored placements are subject to brand standards, availability, and compliance review. Sponsorship never affects nominations, judging, ratings, editorial coverage, finalist selection, or award outcomes.

Premier

Founding Premier Sponsor

$25,000

For major lenders, warranty companies, dealer-tech vendors, large dealerships, dealer groups, and regional partners.

Permanent Recognition on the Founders page
Premium founder credit on website, event, and launch materials
12 months of marketing space
4 special VIP invitations to the first Marque Awards event
Founding Premier Sponsor digital badge
Priority sponsor placement at launch
Sponsored spotlight opportunity, clearly labeled as sponsored

Founder visibility and sponsored placements are subject to brand standards, availability, and compliance review. Sponsorship never affects nominations, judging, ratings, editorial coverage, finalist selection, or award outcomes.

Legacy

Most Elite

Founding Legacy Sponsor

$50,000

For major industry partners who want permanent founding visibility and top-tier association with The Marque Awards.

Permanent Recognition on the Founders page
Lifetime founder credit on The Marque Awards website
Lifetime marketing ad space, subject to brand and compliance standards
4 special VIP invitations to Marque Awards events
Founding Legacy Sponsor digital badge
Premium recognition in launch materials and event credits
First-look access to future sponsorship opportunities
Sponsored spotlight opportunity, clearly labeled as sponsored

Founder visibility and sponsored placements are subject to brand standards, availability, and compliance review. Sponsorship never affects nominations, judging, ratings, editorial coverage, finalist selection, or award outcomes.

Recognition

The Founders Wall

A permanent recognition space honoring the original supporters who helped establish The Marque Awards.

Your Name or Company Here

Founding Sponsor

Founder TierFounder Tier

Mission Statement

Recognized as part of the original foundation behind The Marque Awards.

Website link, optional

Your Name or Company Here

Dealership / Vendor Category

Founder TierFounder Tier

Mission Statement

Recognized as part of the original foundation behind The Marque Awards.

Website link, optional

Your Name or Company Here

Industry Partner

Founder TierFounder Tier

Mission Statement

Recognized as part of the original foundation behind The Marque Awards.

Website link, optional

Impact

Why Founders Matter

The Marque Awards is being built to give retail automotive professionals something the industry has long lacked: a credible, premium, and visible recognition platform. Founding Sponsors help support the infrastructure, media, launch visibility, event production, and industry reach needed to build that standard the right way.

Build the Institution

Help establish the platform that will recognize sales professionals, finance managers, service teams, leaders, dealerships, and partners across retail automotive.

Stand for Credibility

Support a recognition model built around free nominations, verified achievements, disclosed criteria, and a hard wall between sponsorship and award outcomes.

Create a Legacy

Receive permanent founder recognition as one of the original supporters behind the future of retail automotive recognition.

Integrity

Built on Trust. Protected by Integrity.

The value of The Marque Awards depends on credibility. Founding Sponsors support the platform, but they do not control nominations, judging, ratings, finalist selection, editorial decisions, or award outcomes. Sponsored content and sponsor visibility will be clearly labeled where applicable.

Nominations remain free.

Judging uses disclosed criteria.

Sponsor status does not affect award outcomes.

Secure Your Place in the Foundation

Founding Sponsor opportunities are limited and designed for those who want to be permanently recognized as part of the original launch era of The Marque Awards.

Become a Founding Sponsor Request Founder Information

Founding Sponsor payments are one-time, non-recurring sponsorship commitments. Benefits are subject to brand standards, availability, and compliance review. Sponsorship does not influence nominations, judging, ratings, editorial coverage, finalist selection, or award outcomes.