Partner with BCU to Champion Black Contractors and Build a Thriving Future

Visibility. Impact. Community.

Why Sponsor BCU?

Your Partnership fuels a movement.

Black Contractors is on a mission to level the playing field in construction and contracting.

With your support we aim to :

  • Support 100+ Black contractors in launching or growing their businesses

  • Host monthly mixers and business training events across Chicago

  • Build a network of strategic buyers, developers, and funders

  • Launch our Contractor Accelerator Program in 2025

This is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a movement that will change the face of contracting in Chicago. Sponsorship isn’t just visibility, its impact.

Sponsorship Tiers, Benefits & Pricing

Choose the level of partnership that aligns with your brand, your values, and your commitment to investing in the BCU contractor community.

Community Partner $2,500/year

Entry-level sponsorship for small businesses seeking basic visibility and event access.

Benefits:

  • Logo on select digital marketing materials

  • Name listed on BCU event signage

  • 2 complimentary event tickets (mixers, trainings, or summit)

  • Social media thank-you pos

Visibility Partner $7,500/year

Ideal for mid-sized firms or suppliers seeking broader reach, event presence, and digital placement.

All Community benefits PLUS:

  • Vendor booth at Gala or Golf Outing

  • Name mention in press release for key events

  • Logo listed on BCU sponsor page

  • 4 complimentary event tickets

  • 1 featured spotlight in newsletter (public-facing)

  • Inclusion in printed program materials (Gala or event booklet)

Impact Partner $12,500/year

Best for DEI-aligned corporations or developers committed to long-term community visibility and industry influence.

All Visibility benefits PLUS:

  • Speaking opportunity at Gala or Signature Event

  • Named presenting sponsor of one BCU initiative (e.g., Contractor Accelerator, Youth Builders)

  • Top-tier logo placement on homepage and signature event banners

  • 6 complimentary event tickets

  • Co-host opportunity for a mixer or training event

  • Quarterly custom impact report (event impressions, engagement metrics)

  • Featured video or story post on BCU’s social channels and email list

  • Invitation to BCU Executive Roundtable (1 annually)

  • First-look access to new sponsorship packages

Sponsorship Tiers, Benefits & Pricing

Choose the level of partnership that aligns with your brand, your values, and your commitment to investing in the BCU contractor community.

Benefit Community Partner
$2,500/year		 Visibility Partner
$7,500/year
⭐ Best Value 		Impact Partner
$12,500/year
Logo on BCU Sponsor Page ✓ ✓ ✓
Social Media Shout-Out ✓ ✓ ✓
Complimentary Event Tickets 2 4 6 + VIP Table
Recognition in Email Blast ✓ ✓ ✓
Recognition at 1 BCU Event ✓ ✓ ✓
Vendor Table at 1 Event — ✓ ✓
Logo on Event Signage/Slides — ✓ ✓
Highlighted Social Media Feature — ✓ ✓
Newsletter Spotlight — ✓ ✓
Dedicated Sponsor Post (Social) — ✓ ✓
Co-Host or Underwrite 1 Event — ✓ ✓
Logo in BCU Email Footer — 2 mo 6 mo
Sponsor Spotlight on Website — ✓ ✓
Custom Co-Branded Campaign — — ✓
Speaking Opportunity at Major Event — — ✓
Logo on BCU Homepage — — ✓
Recognition in “Founding Sponsors” Section — — ✓
Invite to Private Planning & Roundtable Sessions — — ✓

Our Rich History…

Black Contractors United (BCU) is rooted in a powerful legacy of resilience, advocacy, and community-driven progress. Our story begins in the late 1960s on Chicago’s West Side, when a group of Black tradesmen formed the “Brotherhood Club” to confront the systemic barriers facing Black workers in the construction industry. These early meetings, often held in local barbershops, were a response to the racism and exclusion that plagued the trades.

Their grassroots efforts gave rise to the Westside Builders Association, which later became the United Builders Association and affiliated with the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC).

Simultaneously, a group known as the “Tradesman Club” joined forces with the Chicago Urban League to launch Project 110—a groundbreaking initiative to train 110 Black men in construction and position them as leaders and mentors.

But their work was not without risk. These trailblazers often faced hostility, even requiring protection from U.S. Marshals during early projects. When the United Builders Association later merged with another entity for funding purposes, the original Westside members found themselves at odds due to shifting priorities and geography.

Rather than give up, they united. The Westside Builders Association, the United Builders Association, and the Tradesman Club came together to form what is now Black Contractors United.

Our founding president, Lawrence Woods, made civic engagement central to our work—establishing BCU as a unique force that not only trains and supports minority contractors, but also speaks with influence at every level of government.

More than 60 years later, BCU continues to carry this legacy forward—advocating, training, and empowering Black and minority contractors to build wealth, shape communities, and lead change.

Sponsorship Request

We provide a range of options tailored to accommodate small businesses, corporations, sponsorships, nonprofit organizations, individual members, sole proprietors, and emerging entrepreneurs, including college students. Please fill out the form below, and our team will contact you to discuss how we can partner to best suit your requirements.

FAQs

  • Your sponsorship is active for 12 months from the date of payment or agreement.

  • Absolutely. If none of the listed tiers meet your goals, we’re happy to build a custom sponsorship package—just let us know in the form or contact us directly.

  • Benefits begin immediately after confirmation and payment. We'll schedule your social media mentions, list your logo, and coordinate event perks right away.

  • You can do either. Once you submit the sponsorship interest form, we'll follow up with an invoice or payment link based on your preference.

  • Sponsors get visibility at monthly contractor mixers, special events, and community-facing initiatives such as our fall boxing fundraiser, summer golf outing, and annual gala.

  • Yes. You can upgrade your sponsorship tier at any time during the year by paying the difference.

  • BCU is a for-profit C Corporation, so sponsorships are generally considered a marketing or advertising expense, not a charitable donation. Please consult your tax advisor to determine how your sponsorship may be deductible for your business.

  • We'll send a follow-up email with a simple upload form where you can submit logos, brand guidelines, and preferred social links.

  • Reach out anytime at sponsorship@bcuchicago.comor call us at (800) 797-9429 — we’re happy to help!