Event sponsorship and grants

Fundraising for your event through sponsorship and grants can help you make the event free to attend, or will help you lower the ticket price for attendees.

Sponsorship

Businesses get a lot of requests to support worthwhile causes and events. The question they most want answered is 'What's in it for us?'

Assessing potential sponsors

When deciding who to approach, think about:

• What benefits you can offer?
• What kind of sponsorship you need - cash, in-kind (prizes, catering, printing or venue hire), or a mix?
• Is your preferred sponsor compatible with your organisation and its goals?
• Is there likely to be a conflict of interest between the sponsor and what you want to get out of your event
• Could there be a conflict of interest between sponsors if you have more than one sponsor?

Approaching sponsors

• Do your homework to find out: Who is the person who will make the decision? Make your written proposal directly to that person. Has the business supported your organisation in the past - or a similar one?
• Submit your written proposal well in advance of the event.
• Present a professional looking document. It needs to be well-written, typed, and include: full event details, including the names of any other sponsors; information about any events you've held before - show your track record with copies of newspaper clippings or other relevant information; what you want in terms of sponsorship (i.e. cash, in-kind or a mix); what the sponsor will get in return - naming rights, signage, advertising, presentation of prize, speaking opportunities, or the opportunity to distribute promotional material; your contact name, address and telephone number.
• Follow up your proposal with a phone call a few days later.

Managing sponsors

Once you have gained sponsorship from an organisation:

• get their commitment to you in writing
• keep your sponsor updated in the lead-up to your event
• publicise your sponsor in the ways you agreed in your sponsorship proposal
• send your sponsor copies of your promotional materials
• invite your sponsor to your event and give them an official role

• after the event, send a letter of appreciation, photos of the event, copies of any news stories and a short report on the event and its outcomes.

Grants

If your event requires extra financial assistance, you may be eligible for a grant.

Queensland Government grants

Use the Queensland Government Grants wizard to find grants.

Community Benefit Fund grants

Community Benefit Fund grants provide one-off funding to approved not-for-profit organisations to provide community services or events.