Corporate Sponsorship Letter

Hmm, presumably you're after the exact same advice as the first poster?

In which case, ^^^.

Otherwise, please let us know exactly what gap you are looking to fill and we might be able to be more helpful and specific than pointing you at what's already on the thread.

[quote]Hello, Everyone.

I am completely new to all of this. I would like to know what to include in a sponsorship letter to a business. Essentially, we are seeking sponsorship for a health related project. I've never written a letter like this and I have NO CLUE where to begin. I would appreciate ANY and ALL advice on to how to approach a letter such as this.

Kind Regards,
Michelle[/quote]

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Michelle---As you know, a good letter alone won’t do it, but a good project support collaboration meeting the needs of a sponsor will. And though business sponsorships are mostly philanthropic in nature, you must do your best to answer the inevitable question the officials at the business will ask, along the lines of, “What’s in it for us?”

You will have the core of a compelling sponsorship letter if you can say to the business that sponsorship of your project will:

• Enhance the image of the company as a good corporate citizen of the community;

• Promote good will among its employees;

• Impress and influence high caliber constituents, donors, and volunteers of your organization, many of whom are leaders in their professions, and executives of leading area companies;

• Foster, establish, strengthen, and enhance key business relationships with its customers, clients, distributors, and with financial, industrial and governmental institutions;

• Enhance its image among the company’s shareholders;

• Generate increased awareness and appreciation of the business among the general public;

• And, most important, help fund and make possible your organization as a community asset.

Writing your sponsorship solicitation letter is not an especially hard thing to do. You might want to consider the following suggestions:

(1) Determine the exact amount of money you need (want). Make a simple and to-the-point main reason for giving to your organization, with strong focus on the people who benefit---then a short description of your organization’s programs. And get to the main issue for support right away for the desired project and what the money raised for it will do for whom and how.

(2) Identify any links to that business from your own organization’s board of trustees, other volunteers, donors, staff, etc.---those individuals being the most capable of getting immediate attention to your proposal.

(3) List any and all ways you could promote and otherwise recognize the sponsor. Company name in any and all media, press releases, on a sign at the dedication of the program, etc., any and all ways you can think of. If possible, add to the list an invitation to the company’s top officials (and spouses) for an appreciation or dedication reception.

It’s worth repeating, that while you are seeking money in a philanthropic spirit for such a good cause, when it comes to businesses, especially for sponsorships, it works best to have as many ways identified as possible that you can publicly show them as generous and caring corporate citizens---and that they can justify the giving of such money to their shareholders, clients, customers and employees.

(4) Shortly after sending the letter, pick up the phone to call to follow-up and to ask for a meeting. You will take someone from the Board and take your list for presentation of the ways you will recognize and promote the sponsor.

Do take the short (and I hope useful) time to read my article on my website:

---Sponsorships And Underwriting Campaigns: Would You Please Fund Our ______________?
http://www.raise-funds.com/799forum.html

Hi Michelle,

In our business we source a lot of \'sponsorship in kind\' for non-profit organisations. The first thing to consider is what are you able to offer businesses in return for their sponsorship. The majority of businesses in my experience have existing ties to other groups and therefore their philanthropy \'budget\' is more than likely spent.

However, if you can make a good case for sponsorship as a legitamate advertising/marketing spend then you have a better chance of success. Take stock of what you can offer - advertising in literature, branding at an event, press coverage etc... - if you can make this \'free\' publicity worth the value of the sponsorship then it makes economic sense to a business regardless of the charitable value of your cause.

Going forward, try to make any approaches to business through contacts rather than cold letter. Speak to everyone involved in your cause - specifically directors - to develop a list of contacts. Try to get those people to make the initial contact.

Where this isn\'t possible - your next step is to draw up a list of other potential sponsors. It is unlikely that anyone will agree to sponsorship on the basis of a letter alone so your aim should always be to get a quick meeting.

Our usual process is an initial phone call requesting a meeting, followed by a supporting letter to brief the person before the meeting and then the meeting itself to hopefully get the commitment.

When structuring your \'argument\' - on the phone or by letter - try the following:

1. Introduction to yourself and your cause
2. Succinctly tell people what you are looking for
3. Explain the commercial benefits to them - ie publicity
4. Ask for what you need - ie. a meeting first, not the money
5. Point to the next step - ie. you\'ll phone them, you\'ll meet them. you\'ll send more info etc...

And, just as a quick cheat - get a book of sales letters - I\'ve always found these a good template for drafting sposnorship letters and proposals.

I hope that\'s of some help but please feel free to get in touch if I can be of any further assistance - and - depending on where you are in the country we may be able to offer some tangible help in getting \'sponsorship-in-kind\'.

Mark Nagurski