We often get asked what benefits a club might provide to an Event Sponsor. US SAILING’s U.S. Championships are prestigious – they have great history, a place of importance in the sport and serve a sought-after demographic.
There are guidelines for soliciting and fulfilling sponsorship for US SAILING’s Championships. Beyond specific obligations to National Sponsors, which are outlined in a separate document for each individual Championship, it’s the golden rule. Treat the sponsors well and they will continue to invest in the event and the sport.
If you ever have any question about those guidelines, please don’t hesitate to contact US SAILNG’s Championship Director or Marketing Director at 401-683-0800. Within those guidelines, your ability to generate benefits to companies that support your events is only limited by your imagination. Here are some of the more traditional ideas on benefits that you might offer to a potential sponsor.
In nearly all circumstances, anywhere you are giving visibility or appreciation for Event Sponsors you should give preferential placement to National Sponsors. National Sponsors have typically invested in multiple events over multiple years. We have worked very hard to interest them in our sport and we want to show them value and good customer service in return.
Finally, before offering any of the following benefits to Event Sponsors think through any conflicts that might be possible among sponsors, especially National Sponsors. For example, if Poland Springs is your water supplier and is making a decent investment in your event, and you have gotten the local Subway to sponsor lunches, you wouldn’t want Subway to show up with cases and cases of any kind of soft drink without consulting Poland Spring first. Again, common sense and the golden rule should prevail.