How to seek sponsorship?
Searching for Potential Sponsors
Look for businesses that support comparable events or activities to yours. Use the research that has already been done by other organizations to offer you an advantage.
Make a list of people who could be interested in sponsoring your event. Your list should consist of actual possible sponsors, i.e. persons or businesses who you believe will consider your sponsorship request. Include firms that have previously sponsored you, companies that have sponsored similar concepts to yours, and persons or companies with whom you have a personal connection who could be willing to sponsor you. Every company or person on your list should be researched. Having background information about a potential sponsor might go a long way toward securing funding. Look for reasons why a potential sponsor might benefit from sponsoring you. Consider the requirements of each possible sponsor. You may begin to establish a notion of how you might pitch the sponsorship if you study the demographics, company strategy, and goals of your possible sponsors. As a result, smaller enterprises are generally a better bet than larger ones. Think about pitting potential sponsors against each other.
Putting Together a Sponsorship Packet
Make a brief executive summary or mission statement, regarding the event or endeavour you intend to have sponsored, should always be included in a sponsorship packet. This should be a 250-300 word description of what a sponsorship will fund, why you're looking for sponsorships, and how they'll benefit from becoming a sponsor. Don't write a template letter because your executive summary is your last chance to persuade the potential sponsor to continue reading. Make the potential sponsor feel as if you took the time to learn about them and their business by writing a personalised note. This will also show the potential sponsor that you will follow through on your sponsorship commitments during the collaboration.
Remember to express gratitude to the sponsor for taking the time to review your proposal. In your letter, use a polite and professional working tone to demonstrate your sincerity and professionalism.
Make a list of the various sponsorship tiers. Outline your budget for the business or enterprise, and identify what you want to get from sponsors if you haven't already. Create several "levels" of sponsorship for potential sponsors to commit to, and explain what you're looking for and why you need sponsors at each level.Describe the benefits to the sponsor. Use your expertise of their business strategy, audience, and goals to entice potential sponsors by outlining how their sponsorship will benefit them. Arguments regarding press coverage and other promotional opportunities could be included.
Make a strong call to action. Your call to action could be a form that they fill out and return to you, or it could be your contact information with a request that they phone you to arrange up the sponsorship. Ascertain that the sponsor has a defined task to do in order to progress the process. Maintain possession of the ball in their hands. The easier it is for them to do the work you've asked for, the more likely they are to agree.
This isn't the time to try to use lofty diction and fluff in your writing. Make your case, describe the sponsors' business benefits, and wrap it up swiftly. Short and to-the-point.
Send the packets
1. Do not send as many packets as possible but instead send out packets solely to companies that you honestly believe will work with your venture.
2. Customize each and every email, packet, and letter you send. Choosing the easy way out will result in your project never receiving the funding it deserves.
3. After a few days, phone the persons to whom you sent sponsorship packages. Inquire if your request has been received. Inquire if they have any concerns. When they make a decision, make sure they know how to contact you.
4. As sponsors come on board, tailor your approach to them. Show different treatement to those that donate the thousands and to those that contribute a couple of hundred euros. The difference in your approach should be noticeable – include some wine and dining to keep them satisfied and active.
*Sports teams, particularly for children, frequently have a lot of success obtaining sponsorship from local restaurants and companies. Make a list of sponsorship levels and benefits for the business (e.g. their logo on the t-shirts, flyers, catering during the event) and then approach local businesses to see if they'd be interested in supporting your team.
Tips for writing a sponsor proposal:
⮚ When writing a sponsor proposal, you could start with a story from your club or of someone whose life you influenced positively. This will make your proposal stand out and elicit an emotional response. (2) Describe your work. This is the mission statement for your club/organisation. It explains why you behave in the way you do.
⮚ For the sponsor you're pursuing, you'll need to have a lot of outstanding benefits.
⮚ Specify how much money you want or provide a list with different options.
⮚ Promise specific benefits that are realistic and measurable.
⮚ Contact the right person from a company or a local business. Do your research and approach the right person/department.
⮚ If it’s possible, introduce yourself by phone or in person.
⮚ Always follow through on your promises when seeking a sponsor. Sponsors will put you to the test. Always arrive early or on time for an appointment. Make it clear to them that you are a trustworthy individual.
⮚ Follow up. Always.
⮚ Be brief, request what you want but not take up too much of the time of possible sponsors.
⮚ Maintain a pleasant and courteous tone throughout your letter, do not be pushy.
How to write a sponsorship letter (format sample)
(1) Example
Date
Your name
Name of your organization
Street
Dear, (sponsor’s name)
[Write the name of your event or the cause for which you are seeking sponsorship, as well as a brief history of your organization, its background, and successes to fascinate the person you’re adressing.]
[Make it clear to your sponsor why you require his or her support. Explain why you are unable to sponsor yourself, as well as how they will gain by sponsoring you. Mention all of the facts of your event or cause, including the date, location, and time. You should not demand a specific amount here; instead, politely refer to a list with different donation packages that you propose and will add as attachment to this letter. Ask them to see the list and choose the amount of money they believe is appropriate for them.]
[Demonstrate your gratitude and include your phone number so they may readily reach you if they decide to proceed with your sponsorship.]
Sincerely,
Your Signed Name
Your Name (typed)
*In case they wish to proceed, follow up with the next steps, depending on the sponsorship package they choose.
Keep a list with the sponsors in order to keep track who rejected you and who accepted you.
(2) Example
Date
Your name
Name of your organization
Street
Dear, (sponsor’s name)
[Here you can demonstrate an interest in the reader's sponsorship and try to sell yourself to them. You'll need to fascinate the reader and persuade them to keep reading, and the easiest method to do so is to highlight the advantages. You may state, for example, that the company will gain exposure to a larger market as a result of its sponsorship, resulting in increased sales for them.]
[You should elaborate on the advantages and what else you can give if they agree to sponsor. They will, for example, have their logo printed on your tickets, a booth set up at the entry, a stand set up at the entry, and a pamphlet placed in each goody bag. This is also the place where you should give some background information, describing why you need sponsorship and what you hope to achieve from it. It's critical to explain why you approached them rather than another company and why you believe the cooperation will be beneficial. If you haven't already, you should provide any final details regarding the event and describe how you deal with sponsors.]
[Let your prospect sponsor know how you intend to proceed at the end of your letter. You may state, for example, that you want to call them within the week to hear their comments.]
Sincerely,
Your Signed Name
Your Name (typed)
Tips for seeking sponsorship from local businesses:
⮚ Make sure to mention the impact your organisation made on your neighbourhood.
⮚ Be clear on what you offer them in return and deliver it.
⮚ It's fine if they decline. Give them various ways to participate in your event to make the most of your gathering. They may offer a prize for a raffle or organize an office fundraiser.
⮚ Remember to have fun, to be pleasant, optimistic and kind. Remember that you're giving them the chance to contribute to a worthwhile cause, which is fantastic!
(*)Example of sponsorship opportunities/packages and what they could include:
https://www.stbaldricks.org/file/Resource_Lounge/VEO_CoreCommittee/Sponsorship/2017EventSponsorshipPacket.pdf
Look for businesses that support comparable events or activities to yours. Use the research that has already been done by other organizations to offer you an advantage.
Make a list of people who could be interested in sponsoring your event. Your list should consist of actual possible sponsors, i.e. persons or businesses who you believe will consider your sponsorship request. Include firms that have previously sponsored you, companies that have sponsored similar concepts to yours, and persons or companies with whom you have a personal connection who could be willing to sponsor you. Every company or person on your list should be researched. Having background information about a potential sponsor might go a long way toward securing funding. Look for reasons why a potential sponsor might benefit from sponsoring you. Consider the requirements of each possible sponsor. You may begin to establish a notion of how you might pitch the sponsorship if you study the demographics, company strategy, and goals of your possible sponsors. As a result, smaller enterprises are generally a better bet than larger ones. Think about pitting potential sponsors against each other.
Putting Together a Sponsorship Packet
Make a brief executive summary or mission statement, regarding the event or endeavour you intend to have sponsored, should always be included in a sponsorship packet. This should be a 250-300 word description of what a sponsorship will fund, why you're looking for sponsorships, and how they'll benefit from becoming a sponsor. Don't write a template letter because your executive summary is your last chance to persuade the potential sponsor to continue reading. Make the potential sponsor feel as if you took the time to learn about them and their business by writing a personalised note. This will also show the potential sponsor that you will follow through on your sponsorship commitments during the collaboration.
Remember to express gratitude to the sponsor for taking the time to review your proposal. In your letter, use a polite and professional working tone to demonstrate your sincerity and professionalism.
Make a list of the various sponsorship tiers. Outline your budget for the business or enterprise, and identify what you want to get from sponsors if you haven't already. Create several "levels" of sponsorship for potential sponsors to commit to, and explain what you're looking for and why you need sponsors at each level.Describe the benefits to the sponsor. Use your expertise of their business strategy, audience, and goals to entice potential sponsors by outlining how their sponsorship will benefit them. Arguments regarding press coverage and other promotional opportunities could be included.
Make a strong call to action. Your call to action could be a form that they fill out and return to you, or it could be your contact information with a request that they phone you to arrange up the sponsorship. Ascertain that the sponsor has a defined task to do in order to progress the process. Maintain possession of the ball in their hands. The easier it is for them to do the work you've asked for, the more likely they are to agree.
This isn't the time to try to use lofty diction and fluff in your writing. Make your case, describe the sponsors' business benefits, and wrap it up swiftly. Short and to-the-point.
Send the packets
1. Do not send as many packets as possible but instead send out packets solely to companies that you honestly believe will work with your venture.
2. Customize each and every email, packet, and letter you send. Choosing the easy way out will result in your project never receiving the funding it deserves.
3. After a few days, phone the persons to whom you sent sponsorship packages. Inquire if your request has been received. Inquire if they have any concerns. When they make a decision, make sure they know how to contact you.
4. As sponsors come on board, tailor your approach to them. Show different treatement to those that donate the thousands and to those that contribute a couple of hundred euros. The difference in your approach should be noticeable – include some wine and dining to keep them satisfied and active.
*Sports teams, particularly for children, frequently have a lot of success obtaining sponsorship from local restaurants and companies. Make a list of sponsorship levels and benefits for the business (e.g. their logo on the t-shirts, flyers, catering during the event) and then approach local businesses to see if they'd be interested in supporting your team.
Tips for writing a sponsor proposal:
⮚ When writing a sponsor proposal, you could start with a story from your club or of someone whose life you influenced positively. This will make your proposal stand out and elicit an emotional response. (2) Describe your work. This is the mission statement for your club/organisation. It explains why you behave in the way you do.
⮚ For the sponsor you're pursuing, you'll need to have a lot of outstanding benefits.
⮚ Specify how much money you want or provide a list with different options.
⮚ Promise specific benefits that are realistic and measurable.
⮚ Contact the right person from a company or a local business. Do your research and approach the right person/department.
⮚ If it’s possible, introduce yourself by phone or in person.
⮚ Always follow through on your promises when seeking a sponsor. Sponsors will put you to the test. Always arrive early or on time for an appointment. Make it clear to them that you are a trustworthy individual.
⮚ Follow up. Always.
⮚ Be brief, request what you want but not take up too much of the time of possible sponsors.
⮚ Maintain a pleasant and courteous tone throughout your letter, do not be pushy.
How to write a sponsorship letter (format sample)
(1) Example
Date
Your name
Name of your organization
Street
Dear, (sponsor’s name)
[Write the name of your event or the cause for which you are seeking sponsorship, as well as a brief history of your organization, its background, and successes to fascinate the person you’re adressing.]
[Make it clear to your sponsor why you require his or her support. Explain why you are unable to sponsor yourself, as well as how they will gain by sponsoring you. Mention all of the facts of your event or cause, including the date, location, and time. You should not demand a specific amount here; instead, politely refer to a list with different donation packages that you propose and will add as attachment to this letter. Ask them to see the list and choose the amount of money they believe is appropriate for them.]
[Demonstrate your gratitude and include your phone number so they may readily reach you if they decide to proceed with your sponsorship.]
Sincerely,
Your Signed Name
Your Name (typed)
*In case they wish to proceed, follow up with the next steps, depending on the sponsorship package they choose.
Keep a list with the sponsors in order to keep track who rejected you and who accepted you.
(2) Example
Date
Your name
Name of your organization
Street
Dear, (sponsor’s name)
[Here you can demonstrate an interest in the reader's sponsorship and try to sell yourself to them. You'll need to fascinate the reader and persuade them to keep reading, and the easiest method to do so is to highlight the advantages. You may state, for example, that the company will gain exposure to a larger market as a result of its sponsorship, resulting in increased sales for them.]
[You should elaborate on the advantages and what else you can give if they agree to sponsor. They will, for example, have their logo printed on your tickets, a booth set up at the entry, a stand set up at the entry, and a pamphlet placed in each goody bag. This is also the place where you should give some background information, describing why you need sponsorship and what you hope to achieve from it. It's critical to explain why you approached them rather than another company and why you believe the cooperation will be beneficial. If you haven't already, you should provide any final details regarding the event and describe how you deal with sponsors.]
[Let your prospect sponsor know how you intend to proceed at the end of your letter. You may state, for example, that you want to call them within the week to hear their comments.]
Sincerely,
Your Signed Name
Your Name (typed)
Tips for seeking sponsorship from local businesses:
⮚ Make sure to mention the impact your organisation made on your neighbourhood.
⮚ Be clear on what you offer them in return and deliver it.
⮚ It's fine if they decline. Give them various ways to participate in your event to make the most of your gathering. They may offer a prize for a raffle or organize an office fundraiser.
⮚ Remember to have fun, to be pleasant, optimistic and kind. Remember that you're giving them the chance to contribute to a worthwhile cause, which is fantastic!
(*)Example of sponsorship opportunities/packages and what they could include:
https://www.stbaldricks.org/file/Resource_Lounge/VEO_CoreCommittee/Sponsorship/2017EventSponsorshipPacket.pdf