NYC Pride Parade Loses Corporate Sponsors, Begs For Individual Donations

New York City’s annual Pride parade is facing a major funding crisis after losing a wave of corporate sponsorships—forcing organizers to rely on individual donors to keep the event afloat.

According to Heritage of Pride, roughly 25% of the parade’s sponsors have either pulled out or drastically cut back their support. Of the five major sponsors from last year, only two—L’Oréal and Target—renewed. Major brands like Citi, Nissan, Mastercard, and Pepsi have quietly stepped back.

Organizers believe the drop-off is part of a broader corporate retreat in the wake of mounting public pressure against DEI programs and progressive branding—particularly under the renewed political environment of Trump’s America First agenda.

Facing an estimated $750,000 shortfall, Pride organizers have launched a grassroots fundraising campaign asking everyday supporters to step up. So far, small-dollar donors have contributed nearly $25,000, with hopes that more will join in to make up the difference.

“Corporate support comes and goes,” one organizer said. “But the community has always been the backbone of Pride.”

The funding squeeze mirrors similar struggles in other progressive strongholds like San Francisco and Seattle, where major sponsors are also scaling back to avoid political backlash.

While critics see it as a step backward for LGBTQ visibility, others argue it marks a return to Pride’s origins—fueled by local support, not corporate dollars. Queer-owned small businesses and neighborhood groups are stepping up, aiming to fill the void left by corporate America’s retreat.

Bottom line:
Pride may be losing Wall Street, but it’s leaning harder than ever on Main Street. What once began as a protest is now facing a new challenge—and the future of the country’s largest Pride event may come down to the people who still believe in it.