Event Grants
Available from $3,000 to $20,000, event grants fund larger events with significant potential to increase tourism and overnight stays, particularly during the non-peak season. For grants, 75% of the award is released prior to the event, with the remaining 25% released post-event upon submission of the required reporting.
Event Grant Eligibility
Who Can Apply: Non-profit organizations, businesses, and independent event producers are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have prior event-planning experience to ensure successful and professional execution. Residency in Twentynine Palms is not required.
Event Location: All events must take place within the Twentynine Palms sphere of influence, which includes the City of Twentynine Palms, Desert Heights, Indian Cove Campground and Amphitheater, the JTNP northern boundary, and Wonder Valley. Additionally, applicants are required to upload/submit a preliminary Venue Agreement as part of their application.
Target Audience: Events should focus on attracting visitors from 50–100 miles away to increase tourism and overnight visitation in Twentynine Palms.
Event Timing: While events can be scheduled at any time, there is a particular interest in those planned for the non-peak months of May through September. This approach supports our goal of fostering year-round tourism and aligns with the Twentynine Palms TBID’s strategy to increase occupancy in hotels and vacation rentals during these typically quieter months.
ADA Accessibility: We encourage events to strive for venues that are accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Recognizing the challenges of our rural area, we value efforts to make events as inclusive and accessible as possible.
Event Grant Application Process & Requirements
Applicants seeking event grant support are required to submit their applications online. Applications must include:
- Event overview and alignment with Visit 29 Palms destination pillars.
- Promotional strategy and timeline – detailed strategy to reach target audiences, including specific marketing channels, tactics, and a schedule for promotional activities leading up to the event.
- Applicant’s prior event experience.
- Detailed event budget – total event budget, amount requested from TBID, breakdown of how funds will be used, other confirmed or anticipated funding sources, and demonstration of the 1/4 matching funds requirement.
- Venue agreement for the proposed event location.
Matching Funds Requirement for Event Grants
Applicants must provide at least 1/4 of the total project budget (25%) as matching funds. TBID funds may cover up to 3/4 of the total project budget (75%). Of the required match, up to 13% may be in-kind, and at least 12% must be monetary. This ensures a shared investment in the event’s success and demonstrates the applicant’s financial commitment.
For example:
- Event Budget: $20,000
- Maximum TBID Request (75%): $15,000
- Required Match (25%): $5,000
Of the required match:
- Up to 13% may be in-kind (goods, services, or volunteer time at fair market value)
- At least 12% must be monetary (cash from sponsors, businesses, tickets, etc.)
To help guide you in preparing your event budget, Visit 29 Palms has developed a budget worksheet template:
View as PDF for reference
Download as Excel to customize and use for your application
Funding Release Schedule
Approved event grant funds are distributed in two phases:
- 75% of the awarded event grant is released prior to the event.
- The remaining 25% is released after the event, following submission of required post-event reporting and survey results.
Grant Review Process
A five-member Review Committee, including the two-member TBID Events Subcommittee, reviews and scores applications using criteria such as event concept, alignment with Visit 29 Palms pillars, target audience, prior experience, marketing plan, and budget detail. A minimum score of 80/100 is required to advance for Advisory Board funding consideration. Funding decisions are made during public meetings after each application round.
Grant Evaluation Criteria
|
Criteria |
|
What We Look For |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Event Concept & Alignment with TBID Destination Pillars
|
|
Strength and clarity of the concept, connection to destination pillars (outdoor recreation; arts & culture, history; health & wellness; stargazing and astronomy; culinary). |
0–25 |
|
Target Audience |
|
Potential to attract visitors to Twentynine Palms. |
0–20 |
|
Prior Event Experience |
|
Applicant’s experience in organizing events of similar scale and scope. |
0–15 |
|
Marketing Plan Quality |
|
Strength of strategy to reach target audiences, including promotion timeline. |
0–20 |
|
Budget Detail & Matching Funds |
|
Clarity, accuracy, and demonstration that the 1/4 matching funds requirement is met. |
0–20 |
Total Possible Points: 100
Applications must score at least 80 points (80%) to advance for funding consideration.
Marketing & Promotion Requirements
All event grant recipients must comply with the TBID’s marketing requirements, as outlined in the agreement issued upon approval. Requirements include featuring the Visit 29 Palms logo in event marketing materials, linking to the lodging page on Visit29.org, tagging Visit 29 Palms on social media, and fulfilling any additional promotional commitments specified in the agreement.
Reporting and Accountability
Grant recipients are required to submit a post-event report within four weeks of the event. The report must include:
- A summary of the event and total attendance.
- Event photos and/or videos (high-quality images encouraged for marketing use).
- A copy of the actual event budget and expenditures, showing how TBID funds were used.
- Financial documentation itemizing all grant-funded expenditures.
- Results and insights from a post-event attendee survey, including data on visitor demographics, accommodation choices, spending in Twentynine Palms, event highlights, future visit intentions, and overall visitor experience.
Application Deadlines for 2025-2026
October 15, 2025: Application deadline for events scheduled to take place between January 1 – June 30, 2026.
April 1, 2026: Application deadline for events scheduled to take place between July 1 – December 31, 2026.