CITYWIDE NAMING & DONOR RECOGNITION POLICY
City Council | September 22, 2026
Action Before Council
Adopt policy and establish the framework for implementation 1 ADOPT
Citywide Naming and
Donor Recognition
Policy
2 AUTHORIZE
City Manager to
administer
procedures,
schedules, standards
and agreements
3 PARTNER
Work with qualified
nonprofit /
philanthropic
partners for
fundraising and donor
stewardship
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
2 Why a Citywide Policy
Belmont receives philanthropic gifts and requests for recognition across a range of civic assets.
There is no single framework that applies consistently across facilities, parks, trails, public art and future capital projects.
A permanent policy avoids ad hoc decisions and gives donors clarity before fundraising begins.
The framework preserves Council's authority while allowing routine administration by the City Manager.
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
Community Center
Current priority / capital
campaign
Parks & Trails
Naming and
commemorative
opportunities
Public Art
Major installations and
components
Future Facilities
Buildings and civic
assets
Centennial Projects
Legacy and
commemorative
projects
Future Campaigns
Future philanthropic
capital efforts
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
4 One Policy. Many Applications.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
Recognition should
support a legitimate
public purpose.
CITY CONTROL
Naming conveys
recognition, not ownership
or operational control.
TRANSPARENCY
Opportunities and
contribution expectations
are established in advance.
COMMUNITYVALUES
Due diligence and
consistency with law,
policy and City
interests.
LONG-TERM FLEXIBILITY
Defined terms and
ability to modify or
discontinue recognition
when necessary.
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
5 Five Core Principles
VISION
GOALS
• Major facilities and civic assets: buildings, parks, major recreation facilities, significant capital projects and major public art.
• Spaces, amenities and features: rooms, program areas, plazas, playgrounds, courts, gardens, trail segments, pools and similar assets.
• Donor recognition: donor walls, plaques, pavers, benches, trees, markers, digital recognition and published donor lists.
• Specific opportunities would be established project-byproject through an Administrative Naming and Recognition Schedule.
What Can Be Named or Recognized?
Planning guidelines, not fixed fees or an entitlement to naming Opportunity Illustrative Range Approval
Campus / major civic facility $10M+ Council
Major building / capital asset $5M+ Council
Major park / plaza / trail / public art $250K–$5M+ Council Major interior / program area $100K–$750K+ Manager / Council Room / classroom / meeting space $25K–$500K+ Manager
Pool / court / playground / garden $250K–$2.5M+ Manager Trail / landscape / site feature $10K–$100K+ Manager
Bench / tree / plaque / paver $2.5K–$25K+ Manager
Donor wall / general recognition $500–$25K+ Manager
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
7 Illustrative Contribution Ranges
• Final contribution expectations should reflect significance, visibility, useful life, capital cost, donor market and fundraising objectives.
• Ranges can be adjusted as project scope, design and
fundraising objectives evolve.
• A gift below a naming threshold may still receive another form of recognition.
• Multiple gifts, matching gifts, multi-year pledges or planned gifts may be considered under the applicable agreement. • Final naming opportunities should be established after project scope and design are sufficiently developed.
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
8 The Ranges Are a Guide, Not a Price List
CITY COUNCIL
Citywide naming
Major facilities
Major parks / significant civic
assets
Major public art
Major capital projects reserved
by Council
Exceptions to the Policy
CITY MANAGER
Interior spaces / program areas
Amenities and site features
Trail features and furnishings
Routine donor recognition
Donor walls / cumulative
recognition
Administrative procedures and
schedules
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
9 Clear Approval Authority
• Every naming agreement identifies the contribution, opportunity, term, recognition elements and donor obligations.
• Naming does not limit City authority over design, programming, operations, maintenance, fees or use.
• Naming is generally for a defined term.
• Recognition may be relocated, modified or discontinued due to renovation, replacement, closure, changed circumstances or protection of the public interest.
• Agreements may address unfulfilled pledges and circumstances that materially harm the City's interests or reputation.
• City Attorney review applies as appropriate.
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
10 Protecting the City's Long-Term Interests
Use the citywide policy as the permanent framework. The Community Center campaign is a project-specific application. Potential opportunities include the facility, major interior spaces, program spaces, amenities, site features and donor recognition. Campaign-specific naming opportunities can be finalized as design and project scope mature.
Fundraising and donor stewardship can be conducted with the Belmont Community Foundation under a separate agreement.
CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
11 Applying the Policy: Community Center
Belmont Together: Building Our Next 100 Years
01 Administrative procedures
Application, review, due diligence and agreement templates 02 Naming s chedule
Maintain current opportunities and contribution guidelines 03 Project application
Establish project-specific opportunities as scope/design mature 04 Philanthropic partners hip
Coordinate fundraising and donor stewardship under agreement 05 Council reporting
Periodic information on significant naming actions and program status CITY OF BELMONT | SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
12 Implementation After Adoption
Adopt the Citywide Naming and Donor Recognition Policy and authorize implementation of the administrative framework and philanthropic partnership.
A durable framework for Belmont's current and future civic investments
COUNCIL ACTION
Thank you!
belmont.gov