Charity Walks Blog

When you approach potential sponsors for your charity walks, do you request a “handout” or do you present a well thought out proposal that describes how the business will receive as much or more than they contribute?

Businesses need to make a profit. You need to show them that their sponsorship is important and beneficial. There is nothing wrong with finding ways they can benefit from their generous donations in support of your cause and event.

Traditional benefits provided to charity walk sponsors include printed logos on the walkers t-shirts, a listing of sponsors in the promotional material, and providing sponsor tables at the event. Don’t stop at what has been done traditionally. Be creative.

Consider some of these unique sponsor incentives for your next charity walks:

• Send a press release. Get the attention of the media for both your organization and the sponsor by submitting a press release. Don’t limit your submission to the local media. Make sure it is posted online as well to increase exposure.
• Mention sponsors in newsletter and emails. Your nonprofit organization probably sends out emails on a regular basis to your supporters. You probably send out a newsletter in the mail as well. Another benefit you can provide the supporter, is to mention their generosity to your supporters in these emails and newsletters.
• Add links on your websites. If the sponsor has a web site, the company can receive multiple benefits from you adding a link to their website on your websites. This includes links from your charity walk blog and other online social sites. Your charity walk doesn’t have a blog? It’s time to get one started.
• Offer speeches and workshops. Your organization is making an impact in the world. You know, better than anyone, about the challenges of the cause and what is possible with the support of others. Offer a speech or class on the topic to educate and help the sponsor’s employees. If the topic is not something of general interest, offer to teach a class on topics such as leadership, organization, or public speaking.

Make it easy for the potential sponsor to say “yes” to your proposal to support your charity walks. Show the company unique ways their donation may benefit their financial bottom line in a positive way. Presenting a win-win proposal will better your chances of adding that sponsor as a supporter to your charity walks and keeping that sponsor’s support for a long time.

Thanks,

photo credit: ©FOTOCROMO

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Generosity, Generous Donations, Incentives, Local Media, Nonprofit Organization, Press Release, Promotional Material, Proposal, Speeches, Sponsor Tables, Sponsorship

Charity walks can benefit tremendously from the support of businesses. They can potentially provide money, required products, and volunteer time.

Businesses all around you need new ways to promote their products and services to the community. They also need to continually find new ways to improve employee satisfaction. Supporting charity walks is one great way to do this.

Contact businesses in your area for support. Let them know the impact your nonprofit organization is making, the benefit your charity walk and organization will receive from their business donation, and what benefits they can receive through their generosity.

Make sure you are offering many of the following ways to benefit your charity walk sponsors:

• Mention sponsors on all event promotion material. Let everyone you promote your charity walk to, know who your sponsors are. This is great advertising for your sponsors. Make sure
• Print the logo of each sponsor on charity walk shirts. Participants turn into moving billboards for the charity and sponsors every time they wear the shirt.
• Provide a table for each sponsor on the day of the event. Walkers will be able to visit each sponsor’s display and be able to get their questions answered immediately by the company representatives covering the event. It also provides an opportunity for the sponsor to provide promotion material to the walk participants.
• Provide an opportunity for the sponsors to give samples of their products to the walk participants. They can do this at their sponsor tables. It can also happen by putting together a gift bag for all of your walkers or by using sponsor products as prizes.
• Present thank you plaques or certificates to all of your charity walk sponsors. Many shops and restaurants will display these at their place of business in a location where customers and employees can view them. This can improve the image of the business while also continuing to raise awareness of your organization.

Be creative in finding additional ways for companies to benefit from their sponsorship of your charity walks. The next time you discuss opportunities with a local business, you will be able to share several benefits they will receive for their contribution. It will be a win-win proposal that will help you secure more sponsorships for a more successful charity walk.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: Charity Organization, charity walks, Employee Satisfaction, Generosity, Incentives, Nonprofit Organization, Nonprofit Organizations, Participants, Plaques, Prizes, Promotion Material, Sponsor Products, Sponsor Tables, sponsors, Volunteer Time, Walkers