Creative Ways To Fundraise Through Partnerships With Local Business

Don't just ask for money:

An alternative approach to creating partnerships with local business
Corporations and small businesses alike are usually quite eager to support local sporting teams and / or events - provided they get something in return - and they don't have to give you any money. Instead of looking at corporations solely for financial relief, try to identify what you need and what you have to offer. Of course, having money gives you freedom to get what you want - but this isn't always a possibility.
In particular, it is important to:
Identify what you want.
Identify what you have to offer.

If you identified money as your wants then dig a little deeper to figure out how that money will be used. Knowing what your basic needs are - such as equipment, transportation and clothing - can allow you to properly target potential partners and avoids the 'Well, we just need money to do things' syndrome.

Having difficulty identifying what you (and your team) have to offer a company? Overall, two important things come to mind including your fan base and your team members. To better identify what you have to offer, you should try to match the company's product (or interest) with your own events, programs and needs to find a suitable match. Beyond just cash, partners may be able to provide (or help you to acquire) the following:

• Training equipment and supplies
• Printing and promotional costs
• Officiating costs
• Concession stand supplies (pop, pizza, chips)
• Office supplies
• Long distance phone expenses
• Travel costs (van rentals, gas, hotel, food)
• Prizes, awards and giveaways
• Instructor clothing and possible summer camp supplies
• Technical supplies (audio-visual, cell phones)
• Don't forget that you can also offer yourselves to partners. For instance, you may consider building a partnership with the local pub that most of your team frequents after practices (at a discount because of the partnership) in exchange for … well that depends on what exactly you are looking for - as well as what the restaurant has to offer.

Understand your audience. By knowing who typically attends your events allows you align that demographic with that a potential fittings partners. Knowing your audiences opens the opportunities for partners such as corporate booths and public sampling.

Make it a priority to properly expose and thank (both publicly and privately) all partners. Also make sure you outline how a partner will be recognized and promoted to the community. For example, you can promote a partner by including the logo (or perhaps name) on team posters, schedules, stationary, programs and guides as well as game day tickets. You can also look to court-side advertising on a partnership board, stadium banners and public announcements and press releases (or conferences).

Regardless of how big or small your team may be, you do have something of value to others - the difficulty is identify what that value is and finding the appropriate partner to share it with.

To truly benefit from this article, it is important to understand that healthy partnerships are mutually beneficial. Although you may know of a millions ways that everyone out there can help you - please remember to return the favor and be helpful to others.