Just like any other fundraising, you have to pound the pavement.
You'll get some really gung-ho business owners who might be interested in proactively contacting you, but for the most part, you need to send out letters, visit businesses, talk to business owners, network at chamber or community organizations, just get out into the community and make donor connections.
It helps to have certain givebacks such as recognition in your publications or on your website or social media. It also helps to have specific asks in terms of an amount of a donation you're seeking, or tiers that show both what they get as a business and what the impact of their dollars will be for your organization.
Some other quick tips:
- Try tying in your corporate sponsorship to an event if you're having a hard time getting takers. It's an easy and time-honored way to do sponsorship and one that some business will budget into their advertising or marketing budgets. They're also more attractive because it's usually a known quantity of people that will be attending the event and they appreciate others that support shelters.
- Try doing solicitations early in the year. Typically everyone has their budget for the year set by January, so getting in early means that budget hasn't been spent yet, especially if it's a marketing/advertising spend vs a straight donation.
- Don't put it all on shelter staff. Typically you also have a board of directors, donors, volunteers...these people all have connections with others who own businesses at the very least they can help you get your foot in the door.
------------------------------
Jeff Okazaki
Humane Society of Jefferson County
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2022 10:18 AM
From: genevieve frederick
Subject: Attracting corporate sponors
Hi,
Feeding Pets of the Homeless is asking "how do you attract corporate sponsors? "
#MarketingandSocialMedia
------------------------------
Genevieve Frederick,
Founder/President
Feeding Pets of the Homeless
Carson City, NV
775-841-7463
www.petsofthehomeless.org
------------------------------