Trade Marketplace

Purpose

Oregon Pride in Business (ORPIB) seeks to establish equitable trade relationships for goods and services through memberships and sponsorships that advance our mission and commitment to Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racism. This policy outlines how the Board of Directors identifies, solicits, evaluates, and approves in-kind partnerships in a transparent and equitable manner.

Guiding Principles

ORPIB’s trade policy is grounded in:

• Our mission to foster economic empowerment, professional growth, and civic engagement for Oregon’s LGBTQIA2S+ community.

• Our JEAR statement—Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racism—ensuring decisions dismantle barriers and uplift historically marginalized voices.

• A commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in every partnership.

Scope

This policy applies to all in-kind trade relationships—whether through membership barter or sponsorship exchange—for goods and services provided to ORPIB. It governs:

• Trade Memberships (exchanging services or goods for membership dues)

• Trade Sponsorships (exchanging services or goods for sponsorship packages)

• Community Partnerships (exchanging partnership opportunities for membership or sponsorship)

Definitions

• Trade Membership: An arrangement in which a business provides goods/services of equivalent value to ORPIB membership dues.

• Trade Sponsorship: An arrangement in which a business provides goods/services of equivalent value to a defined sponsorship package.

• Community Partnership: A relationship with a values-aligned nonprofit or chamber of commerce designed to benefit both parties through collaborative events and/or membership exchange

• LGBTQIA2S+ Owned Business: An enterprise where at least 51% ownership and operation is held by LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.

Posting Trade Opportunities

• ORPIB staff will publish all open trade opportunities on the ORPIB website’s Marketplace page.

• Listings will include:

• Description of goods/services sought

• Estimated value and scope

• Submission deadline

• Selection criteria and timeline

Unsolicited Trade Offerings

At times, member or community businesses will have offerings that meet a need not formally identified by the Board of Directors. In those cases, the business will use the Trade application form posted to the ORPIB website to declare their interest in a trade membership or sponsorship. Unsolicited trade offerings will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if the trade offering meets an unmet need and meets the evaluation criteria described below. Case-by-case review will be to confirm estimated value and ORPIB need —  these case-by-case submissions may not result in one-off agreement, but instead must result in a trade membership, trade sponsorship, or community partnership as defined. 

Application Process

1. Interested vendors complete the online Trade Application Form by the posted deadline.

2. Applicants provide:

• Business profile and proof of LGBTQIA2S+ ownership (if applicable)

• Detailed description of goods/services and estimated fair market value

• References or portfolio examples (when relevant)

3. Staff verifies completeness and follows up on any clarifying questions.

Evaluation and Approval

1. The Executive Committee assesses applications against:

• Alignment with ORPIB’s mission and JEAR principles

• Quality and relevance of proposed goods/services

• Fair market valuation and feasibility

• Priority given to LGBTQIA2S+ owned businesses when quality and value are comparable

2. The Committee recommends approvals to the full Board of Directors.

3. Final Board approval is required for all trade arrangements. Decisions are recorded in Board meeting minutes.

Valuation of Trade Sponsorships

• Trade sponsorships are valued on a 1:1 basis with the vendor’s standard fees for comparable cash sponsorship packages.

• ORPIB staff will confirm fair market value through vendor rate cards, published fee schedules, or third-party benchmarks.

Member Benefits

Trade members and sponsors receive all benefits associated with their membership level or sponsorship tier, including but not limited to:

• Listing in the ORPIB online directory

• Invitations and discounts to events

• Marketing and networking opportunities

• Advocacy support and committee participation

Monitoring and Compliance

• Staff will track the delivery of goods/services to ensure compliance with agreed-upon scopes.

• Any material deviation from the agreement triggers an immediate review by the Executive Committee.

• Failure to fulfill obligations may result in revocation of membership or sponsorship benefits.

Amendments and Review

• This policy will be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee and updated as needed to reflect best practices, community feedback, and organizational priorities.

• Proposed amendments require Board approval before taking effect.

For further clarity or questions about this policy, please contact the ORPIB Membership and Development Director.