Not-for-Profit Showcase Guidelines
The Not-for-Profit Showcase provides organizations with a valuable opportunity to reach a broad, engaged audience. By participating, your organization can raise awareness of your mission, connect face-to-face with potential volunteers, donors, and partners, and build lasting relationships with community members who care about local impact.
Be a Part of First Fridays
Downtown Goshen First Fridays take place on the first Friday of every month, year-round, drawing thousands of Elkhart County residents and visitors to downtown for extended business hours, live entertainment, themed activities, and family-friendly experiences from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The Not-for-Profit Showcase, taking place from May to October, offers organizations a valuable opportunity to reach a broad and engaged audience. By participating, your organization can raise awareness of your mission, connect face-to-face with potential volunteers, donors, and partners, and build lasting relationships with community members who care about local impact.
Showcase spaces are designed for information and awareness booths that encourage meaningful interaction and engagement. We strongly encourage organizations to incorporate engaging elements, such as hands-on activities, art displays, demonstrations, or kids’ activities, to spark conversation, draw people in, and make your mission memorable. First Fridays offers a low-barrier, high-visibility platform to share your story, showcase your work, and enhance your presence in the community.
Non-Proselytizing Policy
Downtown Goshen, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization and, as such, is prohibited from endorsing specific religious or political views.
First Fridays cannot allow booths or displays designed for the purpose of religious proselytization or political campaigns at its events.
Organizations participating in the Not-for-Profit showcase must agree not to encourage event attendees to adhere to or convert to a particular faith, church, or political persuasion, nor will they distribute messaging designed to induce conversion to a specific faith, support for a candidate, or a political party.
Dates and Times
First Fridays, May through October, 5-9 p.m. Non-profit showcase space WILL NOT be provided outside of these months.
Set up begins at 3:30 p.m., and tear down begins at 9 p.m. and must be completed by 9:30 p.m. All booths must be set up by 5 p.m.
Location
Downtown Goshen! The specific location of our showcase changes from month to month depending on the event.
Contact
info@eyedart.com
Register
Each organization must submit an application for approval. Our vendor coordinator will notify you of your status via email. First Fridays reserves the right to remove any organization from the site if it fails to follow the guidelines or the non-proselytizing policy.
- Non-profit and other public or private entities deemed fitting by the First Friday staff will be assigned booth space on a case-by-case basis. Spaces are very limited. First Fridays will prioritize non-profits with a strong involvement or affiliation with Downtown Goshen.
- If you reserve a space and are unable to attend, please call to cancel it so that it becomes available for another group at least 1 week prior to the event. Organizations that cancel the day of or are a no-show may not be invited back.
- All applications must be submitted within two weeks of the chosen event.
- There is no charge for a non-profit showcase space.
Location / Equipment
First Fridays provides each non-profit organization with a designated 10’ x 10’ space. The applicant must provide all other necessary equipment (e.g., tent, tables, chairs, etc.). Please note that stakes are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you bring a tent, you must bring weights – not stakes – to secure the tent.
Electrical Access
At this time, First Fridays is unable to provide electricity or internet access to booth participants.
Garbage In – Garbage Out
All materials brought with the organization and all recycling/trash collected during the night must be removed by 9:30 p.m. Each organization must dispose of their own trash or recycling. Any trash left at the applicant’s site will be removed at the applicant’s expense.
Music & Entertainment
Applicants must seek prior approval from First Fridays if they want to play music or provide live entertainment at their location.
