sponsoring

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sponsor/ˈspɒnsə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 a person or organization that pays for or contributes to the costs of an event or broadcast in return for advertising.

• 2 a person who pledges a sum of money to a charity after another person has participated in a fund-raising event.

• 3 a person who introduces and supports a proposal for legislation.

• 4 a person taking official responsibility for the actions of another.

  ■ a godparent at a child's baptism.

  ■ (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) a person who presents a candidate for confirmation.

▶verb be a sponsor for.

– derivatives
sponsorship noun.

– origin C17: from L., from spondere ‘promise solemnly’.