Eventually, I would work with amazing companies and make sure million dollars in sponsorship OBJECTIVE When I started sponsorship, there were many things I did not know.

I remember thinking things like “we only need one more to sponsor to reach our budget” or “what is the fastest way to get a sponsor”. What I learned is that while I could be sponsored and often find more sponsorship than we needed, they were not sustainable or renewable sponsorships and that led me to work harder each year to constantly find new sponsors.

Whether you’re learning how to get your first sponsor, how to get sponsored by more brands, how to get sponsors to renew, or how to get a sponsor to say “yes” first …

There are things that I recommend knowing. The first thing I would recommend is knowing and understanding the values ​​of your organization, for-profit or not-for-profit.

When thinking about getting sponsored, it can be tempting to attract everyone who might be sponsoring you or your property.

– but before you do, take a moment to make sure this sponsoring relationship is built to last. Get out of luck with endorsements, be smart.

First, consider the core values ​​of your organization. Make a complete list and compare it to the values ​​of the potential sponsor.

You can often find a brand’s values ​​or guiding principles on its website. Once you find them, make sure they match. You know, like a dating profile. You want to see some common interest, right?

For example, don’t ask a major liquor brand (or any other) to sponsor a convention for people who want to stop drinking alcohol.

Make sense? This may seem obvious, but it gets more complicated as we learn to realize that a sponsor is primarily interested in their message AND their audience, as well as the ROI and value they get.

Think of sponsorship as a marriage and build it to last.

Finding a company that shares mind space and values ​​with you will help you reach common goals more quickly as a team. Think about the audience you attract. Is it a crowd that would be interested in your sponsor’s product or service? If not, then you have to do a little more research and you can probably find a better combination.

Remember, finding the right sponsors means being able to count on their support year after year.

The less you have to chase money, the more you can help people, and that’s what it’s really all about!