5 Effective Strategies to Attract Team Sponsors for High School Sports
Managing and being part of a high school sports team goes far beyond practices and game days. For a team to be successful, it needs an effective sports program. This includes funding to travel to sports events, pay for sports leagues, and purchase essential sporting goods, such as equipment and jerseys.
There are many ways a youth sports team can raise funds, including collecting player registration fees, sports team fundraising, and selling team merchandise.
But aside from these, having sponsorship is a great source of income. In our guide, we’ve gathered helpful tips for how to get team sponsors, as well as pointers for team fundraising.
5 ways to get team sponsorships
Whether you’re playing softball, lacrosse, or basketball, team sponsorship is an effective fundraising idea that can help boost your youth sports team.
Encourage student athletes to get involved in fundraising efforts where possible. Allowing young athletes to support their sport or athletic programs is great for team building and development.
1. Create packs to send to potential sponsors
One effective way to get sports sponsorship is by creating a sponsorship proposal pack.
Make sure to be specific in your explanation of what you’re looking for. Whether you’re seeking financial help to cover sports equipment costs or funds to pay for tournament fees, companies might be able to help in several different ways. Below are some examples of things to include in your sponsorship proposal:
- Explain what’s in it for them.
- Highlight the importance of the cause.
- Add real-life examples or quotes from young people on the team to form a connection.
- Make it a one-pager document, so it’s easy to digest.
- Consider sponsorship levels that offer benefits for different financial commitments. For example, branded signage at high school athletics tournaments might encourage sponsors to pledge more money to the cause.
2. Write an outreach letter
Consider writing a letter to individuals and companies asking for financial support for your team. Just like the previous tip on creating a pack, you’ll want to be specific with your ask and needs in your letter. Explain to them the benefits of supporting your team. It may also be helpful to add a deadline for when you need to have raised the money to create a sense of urgency. An ideal deadline would be the start of the upcoming sports season. To help you get started, here’s a basic template that you can customize:
Dear [Name],
As the new season approaches on [date], [team name] is writing to ask for your consideration in giving either a sponsorship or a monetary donation. Our team heavily relies on the generous support of local sponsors like [you or company name]. The money we raise will go directly towards overall team costs such as travel fees, uniforms, and other equipment.
We believe a sponsorship could benefit [you or company name] by:
- [Make a bullet-pointed list of ways to collaborate and benefits to the potential sponsor.]
We are also open to any ideas you may have for achieving a sponsorship that will work for both of us.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Sincerely,
[Team name]
3. Reach out to existing contacts
If you’re not sure who to reach out to for a potential sponsorship, start with who you know first. Approach parents of teammates or your team members themselves, who may be business owners. Even if they aren’t business owners, they could work for a local company that might be open to being a sponsor. The benefit of tapping into these existing connections is that they are already emotionally invested in your team, which will make them more likely to support.
4. Ask for sponsorship from your local community
Beyond contacting your team members, connect with your local community for team sponsorships. Try to communicate your needs through local newspaper ads, social media, and community groups.
Some small businesses in your community will cater to the same audience demographic as your team. For example, a local restaurant where your team goes to eat after every home game. Chances are that these local business owners already know of your team, so a relationship might already exist. This will make it easier to ask them about a sponsorship. Since your team and the local business are part of the same community, a sponsorship with them could be mutually beneficial.
5. Research corporate sponsorship
Besides your local community, try expanding your reach to national corporations that offer sponsorship opportunities. Many corporate sponsors throughout the US may be able to offer financial help.
Make a list of grocery store chains, banks, and hotels in your area so you know who to contact. Visiting their websites and attending networking events are great ways to connect with corporate sponsors. Be sure to share your sponsorship proposal pack with them so they have all of the information they need. By associating with a national brand, your team has the potential to attract other businesses that might be interested in sponsoring. A big company benefits from a sponsorship because it’s able to promote its business and reach new audiences.
Online fundraising for your sports team
Even after trying all of these tips, securing a grassroots team sponsorship can still be a challenge. Or, maybe your team still needs additional funding for certain costs. Whatever the case might be, sports fundraising on GoFundMe can help you reach your goals. Crowdfunding on GoFundMe makes it easy to reach people outside of your network. There are also no long wait periods to receive your funds. Build a fundraising team, create a fundraiser, and start raising money today.
Sponsorship takes time
Obtaining a sponsorship can take time, so don’t be discouraged if your team isn’t sponsored right away. If you’re looking for immediate help, consider starting a GoFundMe. Whether you’re interested in football fundraising or any other sports team fundraising, crowdfunding is a simple and quick solution. Take a look at other sports fundraisers on GoFundMe for inspiration, then sign up to start fundraising for your own team.