Colorado Event Alliance

What Colorado Event Alliance does

Colorado Event Alliance (CEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded on March 21, 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to serve as the central advocacy and support body for Colorado's special event industry. The organization represents over 100 Colorado businesses across disciplines including event production, catering, staffing, audio/visual, venues, planners/DMCs, floral & decor, rentals, bar services, photo/video, and entertainment, providing a unified voice with state regulators and bridging the industry to government during disruptions. Since inception, CEA has distributed nearly $1 million in direct financial assistance to frontline event workers through a self-serve online application portal with a stated 72-hour response commitment.

CEA's core program portfolio consists of (a) the annual ICON Awards competition recognizing event and individual excellence (with Achievement Awards at $150 per submission / $100 early bird plus free Recognition Awards), (b) the Events Industry 5K 'Run of Show' fundraising run launched in 2025 with Brewery Running Series, (c) Lunch & Learn educational sessions, and (d) tiered donor and membership programs (Mount Massive $5,000+ down to Front Range $100-$499). Governance is provided by a Board of Directors, founding board, and standing committees covering Policy, Sponsorship, Events, Membership, and Marketing & Communications.

The organization operates with a stated headcount of 5 employees, a 16+ member board including Past Presidents Nicole Marsh (DES, CMP, DMCP) and Andy Klosterman, and President Emeritus Syd Sexton. Revenue comes from three streams: individual and corporate donations (processed via Stripe), annual membership fees (pricing not publicly disclosed), and award entry fees. Strategic partnerships include the national Live Events Coalition for policy advocacy and the Meeting Industry Council of Colorado as a member association. Technology stack is limited to a Squarespace website, Stripe payments, a third-party awards entry platform, and presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn; CEA does not develop proprietary technology products.

Name

Colorado Event Alliance

Legal name

Colorado Event Alliance

Website

https://coeventalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado Event Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 that serves as the central advocacy and support body for Colorado's special event industry, providing financial assistance, policy representation, the ICON Awards program, and networking to 100+ member businesses and industry workers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Industry Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYMPAGAHAE

Gala Dinners & Fundraising Events (Nonprofit/CSR)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Corporate & Private Events (Galas, Product Launches)

Keywords

• Event industry association
• Industry advocacy
• Financial assistance grants
• Event awards program
• Membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts one-time donations and recurring pledges from individuals and organizations. Donors are recognized at various tiers (Mount Massive $5,000+, Collegiate Peaks $2,500-$4,999, Mount Evans $1,000-$2,499, Pike's Peak $500-$999, Front Range $100-$499). All funds go directly to supporting frontline event workers.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from Colorado event industry professionals and businesses provide funding for individual financial awards and advocacy operations.
3. Award Entry Fees: Achievement Award submissions cost $150 per entry ($100 early bird before January 16th), with additional discounts for CEA members. Recognition Awards are free to submit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Colorado Event Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit industry association that serves as the leading voice for Colorado's special events industry. It provides advocacy to government entities, direct financial assistance grants to event industry workers in hardship, and runs the annual ICON Awards recognition program. The organization supports event professionals across production, catering, staffing, audiovisual, and planning disciplines through membership programs, community events, and policy representation.

Product overview

Colorado Event Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as the leading voice for Colorado's event industry. It provides advocacy, crisis response initiatives, and financial assistance to event industry businesses and workers. The organization does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional SaaS sense; instead, it operates programs including the ICON Awards (an annual awards program recognizing excellence in Colorado's special events industry), financial assistance grants for event industry professionals in need, a 5K Industry Run fundraising event, and membership benefits for industry participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICON Awards Program Annual industry awards program recognizing excellence in Colorado's special events industry, including Achievement Awards (Best Event categories) and Recognition Awards (individual honors). Entries are submitted through a third-party awards platform managed and customized by CEA staff, judged anonymously by out-of-state industry professionals, with winners announced at the ICON Awards Gala.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $1 million distributed to event industry workers since inception
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Live Events CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition partner for policy advocacy. CEA serves as the bridge between Colorado's event industry and government regulators, working collaboratively with Live Events Coalition on industry-wide policy initiatives and best practices development.
• Meeting Industry Council of Colorado (MIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA is a proud member of the Meeting Industry Council of Colorado, collaborating on industry initiatives and serving as a unified voice for Colorado's event and meeting professionals.
• Colorado Catering AssociationminorOthersMajor donor supporting CEA's financial assistance programs for event industry workers.
• Biscuits + BerriesminorOthersMajor donor supporting CEA's financial assistance programs for event industry workers.
• Imprint Events GroupminorOthersMajor donor supporting CEA's financial assistance programs for event industry workers.
• Inspire ProductionsminorOthersMajor donor supporting CEA's financial assistance programs for event industry workers.
• Brewery Running SeriesminorOthersPartner for the inaugural Events Industry 5K 'Run of Show' fundraising event launching in 2025.
• Waldschänke CidersminorOthersPartner venue for the Events Industry 5K 'Run of Show' fundraising event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Event Industry Council (EIC): National umbrella organization for the events industry with a focus on standards, certifications, and advocacy. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder industry association, though operating at a national rather than state level.
• International Live Events Association (ILEA): International nonprofit association for live events professionals. Comparable as a membership-based industry association with chapters, advocacy, and recognition programs serving the same professional base as CEA.
• Live Events Coalition: National nonprofit coalition advocating for the live events industry with policy focus. Directly comparable as a fellow advocacy organization; CEA is a state-level coalition member, while Live Events Coalition operates nationally.
• Meeting Professionals International (MPI): Global association for meeting and event professionals offering education, advocacy, and networking. Comparable membership association model serving an overlapping professional community.
• Connect Association: Media and events company serving the meetings and events industry with content, awards, and networking. Comparable in industry recognition programming and member engagement services targeting event professionals.

Direct peers

• Meeting Industry Council of Colorado: Colorado-based nonprofit serving the state's meeting and event professionals. Direct peer in mission and geography; CEA itself is a member of MIC, illustrating close functional overlap in member services and advocacy.

Others

• BizBash: Media and events company covering the event industry with editorial content, awards, and networking events. Comparable in event-industry recognition programs (e.g., its own awards), though operates as a for-profit media business rather than a nonprofit association.
• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE): National membership organization supporting the association-management profession. Not directly competing but useful analog for CEA's operational model and best practices in nonprofit association governance.

Regional players

• Colorado Restaurant Association: State-level nonprofit trade association for Colorado's restaurant and hospitality industry. Comparable as a Colorado-focused industry association model with advocacy, member services, and recognition — although serving a different vertical.

Emerging players

• National Association of Catering Executives (NACE): National association specifically serving the catering segment of the events industry. Comparable industry-association model focused on a single vertical within the same broader event ecosystem CEA serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/coeventalliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coeventalliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/coeventalliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Event Alliance