Pride Toronto Faces Funding Crisis as Google, Home Depot Pull Sponsorships

Pride Toronto, one of North America’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, is facing significant financial challenges after Google and Home Depot unexpectedly withdrew their major corporate sponsorships. The sudden pull-out comes just weeks before the festival, which attracts three million attendees annually. Kojo Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto, directly attributed the companies’ decision to Donald Trump’s ongoing campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the US.
Modeste revealed that both Google and Home Depot communicated their decisions via terse, one-line emails. This recent development follows the earlier departure of three other prominent sponsors – Nissan, Adidas, and Clorox – further exacerbating the festival’s funding woes. While some local organizations and trade unions have stepped in to help mitigate the shortfall, Modeste expressed deep concern about the future operational viability and scope of the event.
The loss of corporate sponsorship directly impacts the festival’s ability to pay staff, support hundreds of local artists, and crucially, maintain its free-to-attend status. Modeste emphasized the importance of keeping Pride accessible, stating, “I don’t want to be the one to have to make that decision, to take Pride away from the community.” He fears having to drastically cut back on the festival’s offerings in 2026 if the sponsorship trend continues.
Experts, like Professor Sui Sui of Toronto Metropolitan University, concur that the White House’s anti-DEI stance is creating a chilling effect on corporate support for LGBTQ+ events. Sui noted that this trend is not limited to Toronto, with major sponsors also abandoning Pride celebrations in New York City and Philadelphia, suggesting a broader pattern of companies re-evaluating their commitments in the current political climate.