PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

Corporate sponsors should address your organization’s mission and the educational content of your program, not sell commercial advertisements.

Create a situation that benefits prospective corporate sponsors AND your audience.

You have to offer more than logo visibility.

The following are highly valued areas that sponsors take interest in:

~ Thought leadership: Allow sponsors to share their conference-appropriate knowledge in a short video between sessions or by having a sponsor as a speaker.

~ Business development: Are there ways you can directly match corporate sponsors with audience members who need the company’s goods or services?

~ Brand differentiation: How can you help them stand out in the market?

Avoid “one size fits all” options for your potential sponsors.

If you create tiers, remain flexible based on the specific needs of each corporate sponsor.

Include the following in your prospectus:

~ Audience. How many you’re expecting and why that audience is relevant to the sponsor

~ Your organization’s capabilities, the content of the conference and why this is a good fit for potential sponsors

~ The marketing plan for the event

~ Testimonials from the community

~ Benefits specific to the potential sponsor’s business needs

Approach existing corporate partners first and offer them the opportunity to get involved.

If your association does not have long-term relationships with corporations, consider including other organization offers for a package that can turn this sponsorship into a long term partnership.

Follow-up with each corporate sponsor after all pre-event, event and post-event benefits have been delivered, and be sure to obtain their feedback and input.