Branding Guidance for Sponsored Projects

Use of a С»ÆÊé, collaborator or sponsor logo requires care and consideration to ensure the use is permitted and done within the entity’s respective brand standards. Logos should be viewed as an organization’s signature, much like an individual’s signature. Organizations protect their logos as legal trademarks and often have their own brand and use standards to follow.ÌýÌý

Every organization protects their logo and trademarks to ensure:
  • Ownership: the entity owns the marks (logos)
  • Purpose of Use: logos can be used only for a particular and specific purpose with permission from the entity
  • Protection from Alterations: logos should not be altered in any formÌý

It is extremely important to always ensure the appropriate and approved usage of a sponsor, collaborator or С»ÆÊé logo before using it.Ìý

Sponsor & Collaborator Logo Use & AcknowledgementsÌý

С»ÆÊé Boulder Principal Investigators may wish to include a sponsor or collaborator logo in proposal documents or materials used during or after an award to acknowledge sponsors or project collaborators throughout the project’s milestones and completion.Ìý

Before using the logo, review the award terms and conditions. If information about logo use is not outlined in the award document or referenced in sponsor guidance for the award, it is best to work with your OCG Grant or Contract Officer to contact the sponsor about appropriate logo use. If the PI wishes to use a collaborator logo, reach out to the collaborator’s project personnel to ask about their organization’s logo use standards and permissions prior to including their logo.Ìý

Acknowledging a sponsor or collaborator's support of a project often does not require use of their logo. Acknowledgement can be in written form in presentations, articles, media releases, etc., without a logo. Usually, written acknowledgement does not require prior approval.Ìý

It is also important to understand any requirements governing public relations or marketing activities related to a sponsored project. These requirements should be included in the terms and conditions of the award. For example, joint coordination and approval for press releases, events, or other materials (beyond just logo usage) is a common requirement.Ìý

С»ÆÊé Logo Use & AcknowledgementsÌý

If a sponsor or collaborator requests to use the С»ÆÊé logo, immediately reach out to your OCG Grant or Contract Officer. OCG will coordinate the review of these requests with С»ÆÊé’s trademark office at system office and С»ÆÊé Boulder’s Strategic Relations team to determine the appropriate and approved use of С»ÆÊé’s brand.ÌýÌý

Another entity’s use of the С»ÆÊé logo requires written approval with specific use requirements and restrictions.Ìý

С»ÆÊé Boulder Strategic Relations and Communications: С»ÆÊé Boulder Brand

Learn more and find guidance specific to С»ÆÊé Boulder’s Brand, including lockups and marks, website branding, on-brand writing and designing, and brand toolkits.Ìý