Question

Topic: Other

Sponsorship

Posted by Anonymous on 1/14/2010 at 9:16 AM ET 500 Points
Hi Marketing Experts!

I'm running a marathon for charity in April & I'm hoping that you can help me to find the best strategies to raise funds. The floor is yours.....
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by michael on 1/14/2010 at 9:34 AM Accepted
    Myron,

    Like any other fundraising you're trying to locate sympathetic people. Right now, if you were running for Haiti, you'd be in a good position....until all the scams start coming out.

    Fundraising is a numbers game. Look at the larger businesses in your area (be careful about approaching customers tho) and find out what charities they are already supporting. Can they do more thru you?

    Get a shirt that you can print "running for X donate at l81.com" You have to be out running anyway, right?

    Michael
  • Posted on 1/14/2010 at 10:54 AM Accepted
    OK. So the first thing you need to do is figure out WHO is in your primary target audience. Who believes in your cause? Why? What's their interest in supporting the cause? What's in it for them?

    Once you've done that, then perhaps you should talk with a handful of those folks and find out what it would take to get them interested in a sponsorship. Don't try to convince them to become sponsors. Just ask them what it would take so you can approach others with a compelling story. Maybe they'll even help you.

    You get the idea. Ask the right questions of the right people, and you'll be amazed at how helpful they'll be. Take good notes, too, because you'll begin to get ideas from phrases you've forgotten once you review the notes from half a dozen well-planned interviews.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 1/16/2010 at 7:30 AM Accepted
    How much are you hoping to raise?
    Are people sponsoring you or your organization?
    Are there any restrictions the marathon places on sponsorships?
  • Posted on 1/16/2010 at 7:49 AM Author
    Hi Jay,

    My minimum is $6000 but more is better.... it's for charity after all. I'm running with "Team in Training" a fundraising organization for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Last year, I raised 5K. I'm going back to the same group of individuals that sponsored me in my last race, but I'd like to create more enthusiasm as it seems more difficult the second time around and I'd also like to target some new people. My problem is that my circle is my circle, I know who I know.

    As far as sponsorship restrictions, I'm not aware of any. BTW... the race is in Paris.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 1/19/2010 at 11:16 AM Member
    Sell your back. Have corporate sponsors pay to have you wear their t-shirt per-mile. So, at the end of mile 1 (for example), swap out company A's t-shirt for company B's, etc. That gives companies something back - visibility.
  • Posted on 2/1/2010 at 9:32 AM Author
    Hi Everyone,

    Thanks for all of your great ideas.

    Unfortunately, I'm out of the game for 6-8 weeks. I have a stress fracture on my tibia (lower leg). No Paris, no Champs-Élysées, no Eiffel Tower... no baguettes. I'm disappointed, but hey, it's not leukemia! My leg will heal and I will live to run many more races.

    I will continue to solicit donations (implementing your suggestions) and I'll work hard to support my teammates who continue to inspire me. They ran a 20km training run on Saturday in brutally cold weather with unrelenting winds... GO TEAM!

    Again... Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!

    Myron - "Riding the wave that is my life"

    Train.... Endure... Achieve... Matter

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