The sponsors are the stakeholders. The sponsors chosen to represent an issue are the persons that have knowledge of the factors and desired outcomes surrounding the current conditions. The sponsor is someone empowered to make decisions concerning the design of an event. Generally, up to five sponsors may represent an issue.

Sponsors co-design the event with the NavCenter team. This CO-design begins with the sponsors' first meeting to dialogue about the issues surrounding the sponsors' project, suitability of the NavCenter as a tool for bringing solutions to this project, resources available in the NavCenter to support this project and the type of event that will best serve the issues and produce the desired outcomes. The NavCenter staff is pleased to support this process.

The sponsors meet with the NavCenter team a few times before the event to confirm the desired outcomes, CO-design the event, and identify participants. During these design sessions any research or resources required for the event may be identified, and what, if any, issues may be out of bounds for the event. It is essential that all sponsors attend these sessions in order to develop a successful event design.

In addition, sponsors meet with the NavCenter team following the event to assess how well goals were met, work product design, and next steps.

Sponsors are participants and co-facilitators, never observers, during the event. The sponsor/participant (S/P) plays an important role in the 'Stable Relationship of Three'. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with participants from the vantage point of a sponsor, the S/P has the opportunity to co-facilitate, not by leading the participants to an previously determined conclusion, but by listening and watching for emergent issues and patterns that arise during the event. Are these emergent issues something important that was overlooked or believed secondary, or is it an issue for another event? By being among the participants, the sponsor is at the ideal vantage point to observe these dynamics. One or more of the sponsors is often a member of the front-of-room facilitation team during the event day.

Sponsors are also responsible for meals and materials expenses beyond the basic supplies provided by the NavCenter for any event.

The sponsor team should also provide a KreW member to join NavCenter staff who will be responsible for pre-event logistics (e.g. invitations, RSVPs, etc.), event day support, and post-event wrap up activities (e.g., environment clean-up, distribution of work product). One or two sponsors may play this role.

Sponsors ensure that event outcomes are implemented At the conclusion of the event, sponsors are responsible for synthesizing the work that was accomplished by participants into actionable steps. This may involve monitoring achievement of goals on an ANDmap® or other project outline tool, or otherwise identifying ways to act on the event outcomes. This role is crucial for the long-range success of the event and the work that inspired it. Ongoing communication with NavCenter staff can also enable follow-up activities to support the outcomes, including opportunities for project team meetings at the NavCenter or subsequent events.