Sponsor

Reach the people who shape NC policy.

Two tiers. Weekly cadence. Upfront pricing. Lock in founding rates through June 1 — sponsorship continues at standard rates after.

See packages Talk to us Already a sponsor? Manage subscription →

Founding Sponsor rates

Founding rates locked through June 1, 2026.

Founding rate sponsors get current pricing locked for 12 months. Sponsorship continues at standard rates after June 1, 2026.

675

Active lobbyists

867

Active principals

Active firms

Starter Sponsorship

One placement, your choice

$99/week

Founding promotional rate

One placement, your choice — in-edition full-slide ad (that week’s edition), feed sponsor (sponsored header on /feed), or firms directory header (sponsor card on /firms)
Custom creative production included — one-time ad design and copy by Lapel’s editorial team
Self-serve booking — pick your week, ad goes live in 3 business days
Founding rate locked through June 1, 2026

First-time sponsors, smaller firms, single-channel campaigns

Premium Sponsorship

All inventory, every surface, every week

$199/week

Founding promotional rate

All inventory, every surface that publishes — “Presented by [you]” cover branding on that week’s edition, plus the in-edition full-slide ad, plus homepage banner above the Top 100 ticker, plus feed sponsor on /feed, plus firms directory header on /firms
Cover sponsor branding — your name above the fold of that week’s edition, where readers form first impressions
Custom creative across every surface — Lapel produces a coordinated set covering cover branding, the full-slide ad, homepage banner, and directory headers
Click tracking and weekly performance report across all placements — delivered the Monday after run ends
Optional consultation available — schedule a 30-minute review of your creative and analytics if you’d like
Self-serve booking — pick your week, upload assets (or have us produce them), ad goes live in 3 business days
Founding rate locked through June 1, 2026

Established brands, multi-channel campaigns, sponsors who want maximum visibility

Compare sponsorships

Feature	Starter Sponsorship	Premium Sponsorship
Weekly price	$99	$199
Placement scope	At least 2 editorial placements + 2 other placements per month, scheduled by Lapel editorial	All surfaces, every week
In-edition ad slot	✓ (if chosen)	✓
Feed sponsor	✓ (if chosen)	✓
Firms directory	✓ (if chosen)	✓
Homepage banner	—	✓
Cover branding ("Presented by")	—	✓
Custom creative production	$250 add-on	Included
Performance report	✓	✓
Consultation	—	Optional

Already a sponsor? Manage your subscription →

Not sure which package fits?

Tell us about your goals and we'll recommend a placement. Or if you're here for Lapel Studio services, pick that option below.

Lapel Studio

Lapel Intelligence works with NC businesses on the digital tools that surround a great brand: ad creative, websites that don't look like everyone else's, content strategy, and practical AI integration. If you're a Lapel sponsor (or want to be) and need help on any of these, let's talk.

Ad creative

Design and copy for placements in Lapel and elsewhere.

Websites

Design and build that doesn't look like everyone else's.

Content strategy

Editorial-quality content for businesses that need it.

Practical AI integration

Workflow automation, internal tools, AI agents.

Scope an engagement →

Our sponsorship principles

Editorial independence, clearly-labeled sponsorship, and the right to decline.

Sponsors do not influence what we cover. Our data analysis is based solely on NC SoS records and our own editorial judgment.

All sponsored placements are clearly labeled. We do not produce sponsored content disguised as editorial.

When a sponsor appears in our lobbying coverage data, we disclose that relationship in any edition where they sponsor.

We reserve the right to decline creative that conflicts with our editorial standards.

Read the full sponsor policy →

FAQ

What file formats do you accept?

PNG, JPG, SVG, and WEBP for logos and imagery; PDF for media kits. Max 10 MB per file. For full-slide ads, we recommend SVG when possible.

What is the lead time?

Three business days from asset receipt to go-live. Premium creative production adds 1–2 days when assets are produced by Lapel. Rush turnarounds possible for an extra fee — ask.

Is there a minimum commitment?

No. Both Starter and Premium are billed weekly with no required term. Many sponsors run multi-week campaigns; we can structure consecutive weeks at the founding rate if you book before June 1.

Can I cancel?

Pro-rated refunds before go-live. After go-live, we review case-by-case.

Do you take political ads?

During active election periods we require clear labeling of paid issue sponsorships, and we disclose the sponsor in any edition touching their policy area.

What happens when founding rates expire?

Founding rates ($99 Starter / $199 Premium) are locked through June 1, 2026. Sponsors who purchase before then have their rate locked for 12 months from the booking date. Sponsorship continues to be available at standard rates after June 1.

Will you send me a report?

Yes — weekly performance report covering all placements in your package, delivered the Monday after run ends.

What's Lapel Studio?

Lapel Studio is our digital services arm. We work with NC businesses on ad creative, websites, content strategy, and practical AI integration. If you’re a Lapel sponsor and need help beyond ad placement, talk to us.

Ready to sponsor?

Talk to us about availability and rates.

Talk to us