• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Joe Garecht Fundraising

Maximize Your Fundraising. Multiply Your Impact.

Maximize Your Fundraising.

Multiply Your Impact.

  • Home
  • Services
    • Consulting
    • Speaking
  • Blog
  • About
    • About Joe Garecht
    • Our Clients
    • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • List of the Best Fundraising Blogs
    • Fundraising Tools
    • Sample Fundraising Plan
    • Sample Case for Support
    • Sample Fundraising Letter
  • Contact

How to Find More Sponsors for Your Charity Events

by Joe Garecht

Charity Events FundraisingIf your non-profit holds one or more fundraising events each year, you know the power of event sponsors.  Event sponsors can be businesses, individuals, families, or other non-profits that support your charity events with major gifts.  In return for their donations, sponsors get a package of benefits that can include tickets or tables at the event, marketing benefits, and more.

As noted in our recent article How to Raise More Money at Your Non Profit Events, your event sponsors should make up at least 50-60% of the revenue for your charity events.  Here are four ways to find more sponsors – and raise more money – for your non-profit’s fundraising events:

#1 – Start with Last Year’s Sponsors

The most important source of sponsors for your charity events should be your previous sponsors.  If this is an event that you have held before, reach out to past sponsors early in the process.  Thank them again for their previous support, remind them of the success of your past events, and ask them to renew their sponsorship for this coming year.  Better yet, ask them to upgrade by sponsoring the event at a higher level this year.

The best way to renew past sponsors is by setting up a meeting with them, or by sending them a letter followed by a phone call.  Either way, be sure your sponsors know that you appreciate their continued support, and be sure to get their input on past events as well as benefits that they would like to see you offer for sponsors in the future.

#2 – Put Together a Host Committee for Your Charity Events

One of the best ways to find new sponsors for your events is by setting up a host committee.  Host committees focus on fundraising, not logistics.  Good host committees help you by reaching in to their own personal networks to help you find sponsors, sell tickets, find silent auction items, etc.  You should be setting up a host committee for each of your charity events, no matter how small or large the event is.

Be sure that your host committee members know that they should be focused on fundraising.  Then, give them all of the materials and support they need to successfully carry out their work.  You can also set up a separate volunteer committee to handle the logistics of the event, such as set up, clean up, and manning the registration table.

#3 – Mission + Benefits = Sponsorship Success

Businesses, individuals, families and other non-profits sponsor your charity events for two reasons: first, because they believe in your mission, and second, because of the benefits you offer to sponsors.  These reasons are complementary, and it is important to focus on both as you approach your prospective event sponsors.  Let’s take a look at each:

First, sponsors donate because they believe in your mission.  Many non-profits completely focus on benefits, without casting a vision for their sponsors.  This is a mistake, even for business sponsors. Remember, businesses are run by people – and those people want to get behind a cause they believe in.  Don’t be afraid to get emotional and talk about your work and the people you serve as you solicit sponsorships for your event.

Second, sponsors donate because you offer compelling benefits as part of your sponsorship packages.  Your charity events should feature sponsor benefits at different levels, with larger sponsors receiving more benefits than lower level donors.  These sponsorship benefits can include tickets or tables for the event, and special marketing and recognition opportunities such as the donor’s name or logo on the invitations, on signage at the event, on event handouts, and much more.  Be creative, and offer benefits that resonate with your donor base.

#4 – Reach New Fundraising Event Sponsors Early

When reaching out to new prospective sponsors, it is important to start early in the process.  You don’t want the first time the sponsor hears about your organization or event to be when you call to ask for a gift.

In my experience, the best way to approach new sponsors for your charity events is with a multistep approach.  Start by sending the new sponsor a letter that talks about your organization, your mission, and your event, and tells the person you will be following up by phone to talk more and answer any questions they may have.  Then, follow up with a call to talk more about your work and the upcoming event.  At this point, if they seem interested, you can make an ask.  Otherwise, you can invite them for a tour of your facility and / or cultivate them further before making an ask.

Share or Print this Article:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Print

Filed Under: Finding More Donors

Primary Sidebar

Free E-Book

E-BOOK: 10 Great Ways to Find New Donors for Your Non-Profit
Get the e-book, plus weekly tips in our fundraising newsletter!









Your email is safe

From the Blog

Nonprofit Board Fundraising

How to Turn Your Board Into a Fundraising Machine

Fundraising KPI

10 Essential KPIs for Measuring Fundraising Success

Let's Get Started!

How to Be a Proactive Fundraiser

Browse by Topic

  • Cultivation & Communication
  • Donor Stewardship
  • Finding More Donors
  • Fundraising Strategy
  • Making Better Asks
  • Raising Money Online

Featured Partners

MobileCause
Next After
DoJiggy

Footer

Get in Touch

Have a question or need help with your fundraising?  Let’s talk!

joe@garecht.com
(215) 839-9085

What We Do

We help you raise the money your non-profit needs to thrive.

Our Services »

What Folks Say

“GFA has been a vital part of increasing our fundraising revenue this year by 20%.”

Testimonials »

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 Garecht Fundraising Associates

About  |  Site Map  |  Privacy  |  Contact

Get Our Free E-Book!
E-BOOK: 10 Great Ways to Find New Donors for Your Non-Profit

Get the e-book, plus weekly tips in our fundraising newsletter!










Your email is safe