Increase the impact and effectiveness of your next event by building support through corporate and community sponsorship.

1. Building Support Through
Event Sponsorship
Pat Huizing,
Nonprofit Consultant
www.linkedin.com/in/pathuizing

2. If You Build it,
And Ask,
They will Give.

3. Build It
• Sponsorship is part of many
businesses marketing budgets.
• Corporations give for the “Halo
Effect.”
• Be flexible.
• Don’t overpromise and
underdeliver – build trust and they
will give MORE next year.
Establish giving
levels and benefits

4. Ask
• Asking is really INVITING people to
get involved in your cause.
• Talk about what you do that is
unique, essential, and effective.
• Be prepared to talk about your
group and the benefits of
sponsorship.
It’s easy to ask for
money if you
believe there is a
need.

5. Who to Ask
• Use your connections.
• Do your research – does this group
give to your type of cause? If not,
don’t waste your time.
• See who donates to similar groups.
• Banks – have branch dollars as well
as corporate giving.
Think Local!

6. Set Up a System
• Create an intial ask – mailing,
email, on website, etc.
• Don’t duplicate efforts. Assign
tasks.
• Build a spreadsheet with NAME,
PHONE, RESPONSE, FOLLOW UP,
SOLICITOR, AMOUNT
REQUESTED/REC, use next year.
• Follow up, Follow up, Follow up
Organization is the
key

7. Other Ideas
• Get a media sponsor – won’t give
money, but air time, or free
advertising.
• Inkind – get bags donated, water
stops sponsored.
• Girl scouts, Rotary, sororities,
other groups all do charity work.
Be Creative!

8. • Acknowledge at event.
• Send thank you note – or
something even more creative.
• Give them something they can
display – plaque, certificate.
• Volunteer recognition dinner.
• Media Sponsor may let you run a
Thank you ad, or write a free
editorial.
You can never over
Thank!!
Be Grateful

9. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Council for Nonprofits
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-
resources/corporate-sponsorship
• Local Center for nonprofits