Elements of a Request for Sponsorship
Writing a Sponsorship Proposal
Investigate the appropriate time to send your proposal. The more lead time the better!
- Remember to follow sponsorship guidelines provided by a potential sponsor.
- Introduce your organization and provide background information.
- Do not assume the sponsor knows who you are or what you do.
- Be creative.
- Address the following points in your proposal: Overview of organization; benefits your organization can offer the sponsor; credentials and key personnel; a list of current and past sponsors; outline of what you are prepared to offer the sponsor; extent of any media coverage; a realistic estimate of the number of people who participate; the current level of community support and awareness for the project.
List the Benefits
- Determine what is "marketable."
- List every benefit you can offer the sponsor.
- Value the sponsorship on merit, rather than what you would like to recieve.
- Ensure everyone knows the name and business activities of the sponsor.
- Take every opportunity to publicly thank and acknowledge the involvement of the sponsor.
- Display the sponsor's logo whenever required by your agreement.
- Honor the agreement.
- Maintain signs and other materials that mention the sponsor.
Keeping a Sponsor
- Be aware that the sponsorship market is competitive.
- Monitor your sponsor's business and ensure your activities are relevant to the sponsor.
- Demonstrate you understand the sponsor's business.
- Find out which of your current activities are most valuable to your sponsor.
- Make sure everyone involved wants to continue with the sponsor.
- Evaluate your activities. If you can offer the sponsor increased benefits, ask for a higher level of sponsorship.