Let Sponsors Help With Expenses

Sponsors have the opportunity to show your members that they are good guys who support your club and its mission. The sponsor or sponsors for an event have access to your members' attention. We do not recommend that you give a sponsor access to your membership files or data, but do give them recognition when you advertise an event. Use their logo on your web site, and in flyers announcing the program. Your association will attract sponsors who want to do business with your members. Make it easy for a sponsor to help you by: Defining the need for sponsorship more closely.  Ask for specific contributions-- for the venue for the cocktail reception before an event for the networking reception after the event for the speaker gifts for speaker travel for a private reception with a distinguished speaker after the event for a capital project for a series of events  Stress what the sponsor will get from your association by telling him-- how many members and associates will see the sponsoring logo; the size of the distribution of your announcements; how many recorded views are there on your web site; how many attendees you expect at this event. Make sure you have a top-caliber chair for your sponsorship committee who is willing and has the time to make those phone calls and contacts to solicit the help of companies that serve your membership.  Sponsorship can help keep your association's finances healthy. Don't forget to acknowledge a sponsor's contribution!