How to Find Corporate Sponsors for Your Next Fundraising Event in 6 Easy Steps

The best way to significantly increase your fundraising event's financial success is to secure corporate sponsors.

The more sponsors you have, the more money you'll make, that is really all there is to it. Additionally, you'll become more credible when you advertise your event because the brands that support you lend credibility. Having sponsors makes the difference between an event that achieves only average results and one that exceeds your expectations. Unfortunately, the majority of tiny NGOs struggle to get sponsors. In any case

● Lacking a well-planned sponsor invitation

● Wait to begin your search for sponsors.

● Avoid contacting the proper businesses

It can all be fixed, which is fantastic news. ANY little nonprofit organization can find sponsors for their event. Although it can require some time and work, it is possible. Let's look at what makes a good sponsor and how to locate one. A corporate sponsor is what, exactly?

Let's be clear about what a corporate sponsor is before we continue.

a supporter of a charity event: Usually involves a company or organization offering money in exchange for goodwill and exposure. Gets their name and/or logo printed on signage and event materials. uses their marketing budget, philanthropic budget, or overall corporate profit to pay for their sponsorship.

The ideal sponsors support the goals and ideals of the nonprofit organization. As an illustration, a food bank might have a major sponsorship from a network of grocery stores. Top sponsors can occasionally be companies owned by a large donor, board member, or another individual who is fervently committed to the goals of the nonprofit. The fundraising event that the company is thinking of sponsoring needs to put them in front of their target market or at the very least, get them attention or awareness that will assist their sales.

Who makes a reputable business sponsor? Typically, a business with

● A strong brand and community recognition

● a desire to help the community

● want to contribute to your nonprofit

The finest sponsors won't just offer you money; they'll also be invested in the event's success. They'll assist you in marketing the event, come to fill the seats, and actually take pleasure in it. The Resources You Need to Find Corporate Sponsors It takes a little science and a little art to get sponsors.

Although there are particular "how to" procedures you may take, gaining corporate sponsors successfully requires learning about the target firm's requirements, interests, and expectations. What are they seeking? What will enable them to accomplish their aims?

As you speak with potential sponsors, keep your donor radar on to learn what matters most to them. If necessary, you may quickly alter your sponsor invitation to make it the most appropriate for the business. Just be sure you can follow through on whatever commitments you make!

Have these prepared before approaching potential sponsors:

● a sponsor package or invitation outlining the rewards and levels. Whether presented in print or digital format, this document should have a professional appearance and be simple to scan. To get the copy and design correct, it's worth taking a bit more time and money. The way it appears will have a significant influence on how the potential sponsor perceives you and your event.

● Sponsors' acknowledgment schedule. When companies agree to sponsor, be prepared with an urgent thank-you letter. Then, establish a procedure for obtaining their logo and any other information you want from them. After the event, reach out to them once again to express your gratitude and inform them of the amount raised.

● Members of the event committee who are eager to pursue sponsors. You won't be able to secure all the necessary sponsors by yourself. While some can, the majority won't, which might leave you upset and force you to do most of the work alone. Many organizations expect their Board members to assist in obtaining sponsors. Create an event committee with the entire responsibility of organizing and carrying out the fundraising event in place of relying on your board. Find members of the committee who are willing to approach their contacts about sponsoring the event and who also have commercial ties in the neighborhood. Having this connection is essential to receiving a "Yes." Once your material is prepared, it's time to compile a list of potential sponsors.

Obtaining Corporate Sponsors

Don't send letters requesting sponsorship to everyone on a list you obtained from the neighborhood chamber of commerce or business group.

Because there is no relationship and the company doesn't know who you are or whether

you're legitimate, it doesn't function.

Alternatively, try these:

1. Compile a list of prospects from the previous event with their contact information. Although it should go without saying, I was astounded at the amount of NGOs that don't do it, therefore I'm adding it to my suggestions. It should be simple to renew and perhaps even enhance your sponsors from the previous year if you provided them with a positive experience.

2. Next, ask the members of your event committee to compile a list of companies they know. In order to obtain sponsorships, personal connections are ESSENTIAL.

3. Find out who your workers, volunteers, and board members know at nearby companies. To assist them to recall that they know the manager at their dry cleaners, their cousin works as the HR manager at the nearby plant, or that their kids play soccer with the kids of the owner of the major advertising agency in town, you might need to stimulate their memory. An exercise in the domain of influence is quite helpful in this situation.

4. Peruse the donor database. Which businesses have you received support from already and could be interested in sponsoring? Maybe they sent a team of employees to volunteer with you last summer, or maybe they gave a small gift over the Christmas season.

5. Search through your payables for potential sponsors. With whom are you spending your money? Think of all vendors as potential sponsors. Reach out to them, reminding them of the amount of money you spend with them each year, and request their support for your event in exchange.

6. Lastly, search the neighborhood for businesses whose goals are similar to yours. Next, try if anyone you know has any inside connections by asking around. Keep in mind that finding a sponsor often requires a relationship. Getting New Corporate Sponsors: Some Advice

Always find a champion within the organization. You need a representative for your request who works for the firm you wish to approach. They will be aware of the decision-making process, the decision-making schedule, and how to guide your sponsor request through it. Whether or whether you receive sponsorship depends ENTIRELY on this individual. Recognize your customer. Every company has different goals for sponsoring. They could be interested in promoting specific causes or using sponsorships to reach their target market.

Perhaps they seek exclusivity. Giving people what they want is made simpler the more you comprehend what they desire. Be specific in your requests. There is a distinction between requesting a grant and a sponsorship. Usually, the objectives and sources of these two funding approaches are distinct. Typically, foundations don't provide financial support for event sponsorship. Instead, they favor using grants to finance initiatives or programs. Sponsorships are typically funded by marketing expenditures and aren't actually acts of altruism because they're intended to

promote the company and its brand, eventually boosting consumer revenue. Inform them of the benefits. Business decision-makers tune in to the WIIFM (What's In It For Me) radio station. They are motivated by the desire to save money. List the methods in which you'll use their support to market your business. Be prepared to share as well.

● statistics about your audience

● Numbers of attendees from previous years and predictions for this year

● Promotional reach (impressions on your website, newsletter, social media channels, and other online properties)

begin early. Some businesses require a lot of advance notice in order to obtain clearance or fit it into their budget. That implies that depending on the procedure for a certain organization, you would need to inquire as much as a year in advance. Consider benefits in new ways. Your ability to come up with something that will satisfy your prospect's demands will increase as you have a better understanding of what they desire. understanding numbers Prepare a few critical statistics on the number of impressions your sponsor will receive through your event, event advertising, website, etc. Better yet, if you can estimate their monetary value. acquire media sponsors. Ask your neighborhood's radio, TV, and newspaper stations to promote your event as media partners. In essence, you are asking them to advertise the event for free to their audience. As soon as you can, ask your media sponsors to share their promotion strategy. They ought to be able to tell you when, how frequently, and how much an advertiser would charge for similar places. Let potential corporate sponsors know they'll be a part of a "$X,000 media campaign" by providing them with this information. have a registration form. Include a form for your contact to complete as part of your sponsor invitation so you have a written record of their commitment. Also keep in mind that until you get cash, they are not a sponsor.

Be prepared to receive sponsors in kind. A few businesses will provide you with goods or services in exchange for your money. As an illustration, your neighborhood print business may propose to give all printing for the occasion (tickets, programs, posters, banners, etc.). Include them on your list of sponsors after getting them to estimate the cost of all the supplies. After all, they simply prevented you from making a large purchase, which is just as beneficial as a sponsor who provides cash.

The conclusion

The overall amount of money raised by your fundraising event may be swiftly increased by adding sponsors. Your chances of success significantly rise when you deliberately select sponsor prospects based on the relationships you have. Not every organization makes an excellent sponsor prospect. Prepare your materials and target potential donors who have a connection to your organization or want to support your cause. If you provide them with a terrific experience this year, they'll continue to support you. All those sponsorship funds boost your net fundraising event outcomes, enabling you to impact more people. And for that, we are here.