The latest writings from our team
What Your Board of Directors Needs to Know About Sponsorship
If I had a dollar for every time I heard a fundraiser complain about their board of directors…or a board of directors complain about their fundraiser, I’d be a very rich man! Every single problem that I see stems from a lack of understanding of the sponsorship process and so this post is part therapy for fundraisers, but is also an instructional tool to share with your board members. In no particular order, here is what your board of directors needs to know about sponsorship:
March 2024’s Most Memorable Activations
And whoosh, March disappears just like that. There was so much fun along the way, such as SXSW 2024 in Austin, which is always a good...
10 Techniques to Increase Sponsorship ROI and Brand Value
Determining where to focus your efforts to maximize your sponsorship value can be confusing. We receive messages and emails all the time from people who tell us that valuation remains one of the most puzzling parts of sponsorship. We work alongside our clients to develop strategies that maximize the revenue potential for their organization and sponsorship properties. Through this process, we’ve learned that not all benefits are created equal. There are specific benefits sponsorship seekers can focus on developing that can provide the best return on investment (ROI) & return on effort (ROE). In this post, I want to share ten strategies that go beyond logo placement that you can utilize to take your value to the next level. Knowledge of your Audience and Willingness to Share Information Knowledgeable sponsors know their target markets intimately. They know where they live, what they drive, what they care about, heck some of them can even tell you what color shoes they prefer. In order for a sponsor to justify an investment in your organization, they need to know within reason that you can provide an audience that matches within their target markets. This can sound intimidating at first but the great thing […]
How to Get Sponsors Despite your Geography!
When you discover that a sponsorship prospect is clear across the world from you, you might feel disinclined to pursue them further. You’re worried about regional differences that could rear their ugly head, not to mention the annoyance of different time zones. Well, I’m here to tell you that geography does not have to be a major stumbling block when it comes to prospecting and obtaining sponsorship clients. I’ve done it personally and I have clients who do it and I can tell you, it’s absolutely possible! This post will be helpful to those who sell sponsorship in geographies outside of their head office location or aspire to soon begin doing so. Tips for Obtaining Sponsors Regardless of Location Sharpen Your Value Proposition What do you bring to the table? In other words, why should an international sponsor take a bet on you? Remember, it’s enough of a risk for a local sponsor within the same country as you to take a chance on you when you’re green and unproven. There is substantially more risk when seeking international sponsors regarding time, reputation, and money. That’s why your value proposition must be as sharp as a rock and as clear as […]
Sponsorship Realities Every Sponsorship Property Needs to Know
I recently did a presentation for a group of fundraisers, community centre CEOs and sponsorship sales professionals in the sport and for-profit space focused on sponsorship realities that every sponsorship property needs to know. In today’s post, I am going to share the insights from that invite-only presentation. In no particular order, here are sponsorship realities that people just aren’t talking about.
Corporate Sponsorship Case Study: Sponsorship Levels Gone Wrong
Unfortunately, our prospects can suffer from the same misconceptions about sponsorship as everybody else. I want to share this case study with you to outline how important it is to educate our sponsors and to make sure we fully understand the needs of our sponsors before we close the deal.
How to Get Film Festival Sponsors
Before you dive in, if you are interested in festival sponsorship, check out these titles in our “sponsorship for festivals” series:...
Common Sponsorship Proposal Mistakes to Avoid
A sponsorship proposal is your key to getting a sponsor onboard and generating guaranteed revenue. Writing up a well-structured proposal...
Sponsorship Common Mistakes: Charity Edition (And How to Fix Them!)
Sponsorship is an essential components of any corporate fundraising strategy. If you aren’t doing sponsorship as part of your fundraising plan, you should be! When working with clients, I see some some misconceptions come up again and again, and while this post is targeted at the small shop, I think all shops can relate. Before you dive in, if you are involved with a charity or a non profit looking for sponsorship, check out these titles in our “sponsorship for causes” series: Cause Marketing versus Corporate SponsorshipDefinitive Guide to the Sponsorship ProposalThe Biggest Problem with Sponsorship and How You Can Fix ItThree Things Missing From Every Sponsorship PackageCorporate Social Responsibility a Users Guide for NonprofitsHow to Start a Sponsorship Program for Your Nonprofit3 Most Common Barriers To Good Cause SponsorshipThings Sponsors Say: “We Don’t do Sponsorship”What I Wish I Knew at the Beginning of My Sponsorship Career