Sponsor, Sponsorship. A firm, organization or individual that underwrites the expense of making and issuing a medal, or medal program, for another entity. Many scienific, medical (and some sports) medallic awards are often underwritten by profit corporations for the benefit of nonprofit organizations, often trade associations. Chevrolet was the sponsor, for example, of the College Football Centennial Medal of 1969. The American Numismatic Society was the sponsor of the New York Charter Day Medal of 1898 for the New York City Chamber of Commerce. The sponsorship of a medal – or a medal award program – is an eleemosynary or philanthropic act.