Non-Profit Experiential Tours: Tips for Sponsorship Development
Every experiential marketing plan needs adequate funding and finding sponsors and partners could feel like an impossible task. The first important task for a non-profit or cause marketer is to find the appropriate affinity sponsor for your message and needs. While this is no simple task, the following steps will make finding the right sponsor much easier to accomplish.
Create an Executive Summary - Create a one-page executive summary, case statement or project description and include a timeline and total required funds needed. Consider all aspects. State the issue, the mission and vision of your tour. Identify the exhibition’s potential opportunities and/or challenges. Set objectives for the exhibition, identify audiences and desired impact of the exhibition. Include partners that you currently or plan to work with.
Create a Development Plan – A Development Plan contains a mix of the fundraising components. Start by having a small, focused committee brainstorm the following categories: Individual Contributors (sometimes referred to as Angels); Private Foundations; Regional Community Foundations; Public Foundations; Corporate Foundations; Advertising revenue from Corporations/Banks; Grants from funders that focus on the outcomes of the mission of your mobile tours; Special Events such as Galas or Auctions; and funding opportunities for community groups/private or public schools.
Develop a Sponsorship Package - Explore all possible opportunities within your unique organization that might appeal to a sponsor. In addition to the exposure your sponsor will get from the tour itself, other aspects may include use of your website or social media sites, data base access, appearances in your newsletter or special events, advertising and PSA opportunities, or logo placement.
Determine the Capacity of Potential Funders - Research each organization to see what funding and project capacity they’ve had in the past. Locate funders who have given similar amounts to organizations with a mission/vision comparable to your own.
