Sponsorship Toolkit
Sponsorship is a significant impact to ensuring the growth and sustainability of your chapter's initiatives. Use this toolkit as a resource to equip you with the tools and strategies from our volunteer leader resources to help you secure vital sponsorship support. From crafting compelling sponsorship proposals to nurturing lasting partnerships, empower your chapter to thrive in today's dynamic programming landscape. We hope this supports fundraising efforts and continues to propel your chapter's programming success.
Assess:
Survey your Membership: Inform your sponsors of membership priorities and needs.
2023 Tampa Bay’s Membership Survey
Identify Program Topics of Interest from your Membership: Confirm your member's needs before reaching out to potential sponsors. Potential sources may come from:
- Chapter Surveys
- Hot Legal Issues in the news (ACC Newsstand)
- ACC Community Discussions
- Past Programs that can be Replicated
Package:
Tailor your Sponsorship Packages: Create sponsorship packages that align with the interests and goals of your sponsors.
Samples of Recent Sponsorship Packages
San Francisco Bay Sponsorship Package
Consider reaching out directly to sponsors that align with your chapter's initiatives: Review the language for your sponsorship proposals and adjust your messaging accordingly.
Events:
Networking Opportunities and Engagement: Create opportunities for sponsors to interact with members. Consider holding sponsor-exclusive events and highlight ways in which sponsors can actively engage with members throughout the year.
Clear Communication and Board Roles: Establish open and transparent lines of communication with your sponsors. Consider assigning board roles such as program chairs and chapter administrators to keep your sponsors informed of ACC activities, and how their involvement can make an impact with your chapter members.
Reach out to your members after the event: Work with your communications chair, program chair, and chapter administrator to reach out to registrants and attendees to thank them for their interest/participation.
Consider Holding your Chapter Board Meetings at Sponsors’ Offices: Keep them involved in leadership activity and strategic planning.
Deliver Value: Ensure sponsors receive value from their investment in the chapter. Promote their brand and services to your chapter members through your various channels including, chapter pages, newsletters, and member communications
Work with your Sponsor to Incentivize Engagement: Consider using raffles and giveaways to enhance your events and create excitement with attendees.
Allow time for Sponsor Updates: Provide time in your programs for sponsors to promote their services.
Consider Seeking out Co-sponsoring Opportunities with ACC Networks: ACC Networks can increase the visibility of your sponsors.
Work with your Sponsors to Hold Events Around Hot Topics: If your schedule permits, consider holding programs on timely events that are relevant to your members. Your sponsor may have the resources to pull off quickly and increase their ROI at the end of the year.
Program Series: Programs centered around a specific topic and turned into a consistent series can keep your members consistently engaged with your chapter and sponsor offerings.
Structure your Promotional Calendar with Consistency: Plan specific days/weeks for topics, or a weekly or biweekly newsletter of chapter programs. Use chapter hashtags to highlight your offerings.
Recognition:
Recognition and Acknowledgement: Give sponsors appropriate recognition and acknowledgement for their support. This can include verbal recognition at events, logos on promotional materials, special notes from board liaisons, and end of the year appreciation events.
Renewal Strategies: Develop strategies to encourage sponsors to renew their support. Showcase positive outcomes and be open to proposals with new opportunities.
ROI:
Measure ROI: Work with Sponsors to establish measurable key performance indications to gauge their investment.
Sponsor Check-In and Record Keeping: Maintain detailed records of sponsor interactions, agreements, and outcomes. Check in with your sponsors on a consistent basis and ask how they are doing and help them track their success. Use their input to refine sponsorship offerings. Use your Chapter’s Sharepoint Site
Know your Sponsor's Obligations: Use check-ins to ensure they are on track with their deliverables in order to help them succeed during their year, as well as to demonstrate ROI efforts at the end of the year.
Ongoing Efforts: Keep sponsors informed about in house trends, best practices, and topics that are popular with your chapter members.
