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Creating Effective Event Sponsorship Levels

Reaching out to sponsors can be a really difficult thing to do.  And you want to make sure you have complete and effective proposal document to leave with your potential sponsors. As a follow up to our previous post about "How to Gain Sponsorship for Your Event",  here are the top things to consider when setting your sponsorship levels and dollar amounts:

1. Determine the funds you will need in order to produce the event
   That is usually the best total to shoot for when creating different buy-in amounts for your sponsors.  Especially if it's a charity event.  A charity 5k that expects to spend $3000 to produce the event should aim to get a Presenting Sponsor covering that amount.  That way, all additional sponsor $$ and registration $$
   
   
2. Create a list of sponsor benefits and deliverables that you can provide
   These are things like:
   
   • Logo on the brochure, website, t-shirts
   • Company mentions in radio ads or news stories
   • Event banners with their logo at the start/finish line area
   • Expo booth space for them to advertise at your event
     
     
3. Decide on the sponsorship level names and assign a dollar value
   For Example:
   
   • Platinum - $5,000 | Gold - $3,000 | Silver - $1,000
     or
   • Presenting - $5,000 | T-shirt - $3,000 | Mile Marker - $1,000
     
     
4. Assign the benefits package to each of the different levels
   The top level sponsor should receive all the benefits with the subsequent levels getting less and less as you work down to the smallest sponsor buy-in amount.
   
   
5. Make a list of how the sponsor will benefit from your event.
   Besides just getting their logo splashed everywhere, let them know how else their participation in your event will benefit them.  Many times it's beneficial to point out to sponsors that your target market for event participants is also the same type of people they target for their own business.  So you are helping them get in front of hundreds, maybe thousands of potential new customers. 
   
   
6. Make your target list of businesses in the community
   Now that you have your sponsor levels, benefits and dollar amounts set, decide what businesses are your best targets.  For example, if you have a level for "T-Shirt Sponsor" consider going after a custom apparel store.  Or if your event is raising money for an animal charity, talk to the local pet stores, shelters and boarding facilities about becoming your top level sponsor. 

Share Your Success!  Post a Comment -
What creative ways have you setup your sponsorship opportunities to help engage businesses?

RELATED ARTICLES:
How to Gain Sponsorship for Your Event