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Running a charity can be tough. Income and financial sustainability can be a big challenge in running a charity because these organisations are usually non-profits. Generally, fundraising is often the solution here, hence the need for corporate sponsorships.

Besides the financial support, corporate sponsors can boost your charity's credibility, increase awareness around your cause, and help you acquire even more sponsorship or donation opportunities. In addition, businesses or corporate sponsors like being associated with charitable causes because it boosts their brand image, helps attract new customers to their brand, increases their brand visibility and recognition and gives them an edge over their competitors. This is a plus for you.

However, while several corporate sponsorship opportunities exist, attracting them to your cause isn't always easy. Here's what you can do to win them.

Know What You Want

Corporate sponsorship opportunities come in many forms, and it's important to have a goal or objective of what you need. For instance, the two primary types of corporate sponsorships are financial and in-kind. Therefore, assess your sponsorship needs to make the right decision. In-kind corporate sponsorship may entail venue partnerships, digital sponsorships, event sponsorships, promotional partnerships, employee giving or volunteer programmes, etc.

Create Sponsorship Packages 

It's unlikely for you to find one sponsor for all your charitable activities and operations. Therefore, it's always a plus to seek support from multiple sponsors. And the best way to achieve this is by creating sponsorship packages. First, it's crucial to work with a budget or a goal. Doing this will give you a clear picture of the amount of help to seek. In addition, most corporate sponsors budget for corporate social responsibility activities. Therefore, creating packages can help you take advantage of large organisations with big budgets and the smaller ones with limited budgets. The goal is to avoid locking out any potential sponsors because of their mid to low range budgets.

Leverage Your Current Network

Networking is also crucial in helping you reach your potential sponsors. And before you start looking outwards for ways to expand your network, focus on the network you already have. First, don't overlook or underestimate the local businesses and partners. If you already have such organisations and partners supporting you, use them to your advantage by requesting them to create awareness of your charity to their other networks. Are there any high-ranking members in your charity or the local businesses you know? Leverage such points of contact by asking them to reach out to their networks and request sponsorships on your behalf or create awareness of your charity.

For more corporate sponsorship opportunities, contact a program near you.