November 2024 - Panel Recap
Here are some valuable takeways from our panel of experts:
It’s important to ensure your proposal aligns with what the company is doing in the market and where they are making current investments. The company’s values must align with your request. Do your homework. Check their website. Follow their social media.
Draft concise funding/sponsorship requests. Immediately embed your mission in your message and use bullet points to highlight exactly what your program is about, the impact you are making and what you are requesting.
Be sure to follow the instructions for submitting your request. Provide ALL the requested information.
Personalize your proposal. Don’t send a one size fits all request to every sponsor. Include a negotiable, customizable, sponsorship packet with different choices and levels of sponsorship activations.
Make sure you point out the return on investment for the sponsor. Include how their sponsorship will be featured in the community and how partnering with you will help elevate their brand.
Event tickets are not really what sponsors are looking for as a benefit. When they support lots of events, it can be difficult for them to fill seats. Keep the number of included tickets to a minimum. If they do need more, they will ask.
Let sponsors know what their funding will accomplish. For example, how many families will that donation feed, how many children will get a scholarship, etc. Include pictures that show the impact your organization is making in the community.
Forming a relationship with your funders by checking in on a periodic basis is key to knowing when to submit your requests. Just sending a request once a year is not building a relationship. Regular communication will reveal important factors like their fiscal year end and when they budget for their charitable giving.
Communicating with your funders at the calendar year end with a, “Here’s what we’re doing in 2025,” is ideal for showcasing what your upcoming request will include.
Be nimble and responsive. Situations and timing can change quickly. Always know how to access your W9 and how to issue an invoice at a moment's notice.
Be tenacious. Funders are inundated with requests in addition to their day-to-day work. Follow up on your request.
Be sure to purchase tickets early for our next event! We often sell out quickly.
