1. Purpose and Scope
This appendix outlines Convene for the Cities’ policies regarding Qualified Convene for the cities Sponsors (QCSs) and applies to all individuals, organizations, businesses, churches, non-profits, and networks that utilize or participate in Convene for the Cities' platform, services, or technology — including but not limited to independent networks that operate under the Convene for the Cities umbrella (“Networks of Networks”).
2. Appointment of Qualified Convene for the cities Sponsors (QCSs)
Convene for the Cities reserves the right to designate and authorize Qualified Sponsors to provide promotional support, visibility, and alignment within the Convene for the Cities ecosystem. These sponsors may serve:
- The Convene for the Cities primary network,
- Any sub-network,
- Or Networks of Networks affiliated with Convene for the Cities.
QCSs may be granted varying levels of exclusivity, including by city, state, regional, national, or international scopes. All such agreements shall be honored across all Convene for the Cities-affiliated networks and platforms.
3. Visibility, Access, and Participation
QCSs shall receive platform presence and visibility based on their selected sponsorship tier. This may include advertising placement, featured content, group participation, digital events, or custom landing pages.
Benefits are activated upon payment of the required sponsorship fees and may be suspended or revoked for non-payment, misalignment, or breach of terms.
4. Revenue Sharing with Networks
When Convene for the Cities secures an exclusive QCS agreement that impacts multiple networks, it may offer revenue sharing or promotional equity to affected networks to recognize the value of distributed exposure and shared benefits.
Specific percentages or terms of revenue sharing will be communicated by separate agreement or written notice to applicable network leaders.
5. Exclusivity Enforcement and Non-Circumvention
To maintain the integrity of exclusive sponsorship relationships:
- No client, member, or network within the Convene for the Cities ecosystem may engage a competing sponsor in the same category and scope of exclusivity (e.g., by region or industry) without written consent from Convene for the Cities.
- Side agreements that violate the exclusivity of a QCS relationship are expressly prohibited.
- Violations may result in immediate restriction or termination of access to platform features or network participation.
6. Grandfathering Competing Relationships and Exceptions
If, prior to the execution of an exclusive QCS agreement, a network or member has an active, verifiable sponsorship relationship in a competing category or geography, such sponsorship may be grandfathered under the following conditions:
- The pre-existing relationship must have been formally established prior to the effective date of the QCS exclusivity agreement.
- The exclusive Convene for the Cities QCS understands that a grandfathered exception may exist and such exception does not constitute a breach of exclusivity.
- In such cases, the QCS will retain visibility within the affected network(s) but only in a non-exclusive capacity.
- All grandfathered sponsor relationships must be reviewed and approved by Convene for the Cities, either annually or upon the completion of any contract term, whichever comes first.
- Effective June 1, 2025, Convene for the Cities reserves the right to discontinue, limit, or deny renewal of any grandfathered arrangement not submitted for timely review.
- If no formal agreement or term exists, Convene for the Cities reserves the right to immediately renegotiate or revoke grandfathered status at its discretion. No informal or implied arrangement shall override QCS exclusivity.
- All QCSs agree to this provision by default as a condition of their exclusivity under this Master Agreement.
7. Convene for the Cities First Right of Negotiation
To protect strategic platform value and ensure good stewardship:
- Convene for the Cities retains the first right of negotiation or refusal regarding any sponsorship opportunities, advertising rights, or visibility contracts within its Networks of Networks.
- Any external sponsor engagement by a network that may affect platform integrity must first be presented to Convene for the Cities for consideration.
- This provision ensures that Convene for the Cities' investment, vision, and Kingdom alignment are maintained across all affiliated platforms.
8. Exclusivity Requires Prior Approval
Any Sponsor, Service Provider, or Advertiser seeking exclusive rights—by category, industry, region, or audience—must receive formal written approval from Convene for the Cities prior to public representation, offer, or execution of such exclusivity.
No exclusivity shall be implied or enforceable without Convene for the Cities' express written authorization. Convene for the Cities reserves full discretion to define, grant, or deny exclusivity in accordance with its strategic interests.
9. Acknowledgement and Agreement
By using Convene for the Cities' platform or participating in any Convene for the Cities-affiliated network, the sponsor, member, or network agrees to honor all QCS designations, exclusivity protections, grandfathering terms, and Convene for the Cities' right of first negotiation as described herein.
These terms are binding upon execution of the Master Agreement or through continued use of Convene for the Cities systems. Convene for the Cities reserves the right to revise or update this policy with notice to applicable parties.