Suggestions for approaching a Sponsor for your KSR

Have a handout that covers at least the following:

• What is a KSR? (A picture collage?)
• How many people will see the race (and the sponsor's name)?
• Who are you - contact information?
• daVinci Days contact information.
• What does the sponsor get for their dollars?
• An invitation to see the race - not dependent on sponsorship.

Get the name of a person who can make a decision.

If possible determine the organization's donation policy.

For each business approached, analyze what you can provide for the sponsor.

Be prepared with proposals for multiple levels of sponsorship.

Be flexible in hearing their thoughts. You almost certainly won't get a yes at the first meeting. Keep the communication open.

When meeting with a sponsor, be on time, dress neatly, and have all your prepartionn done. Think of it as a job interview.

Care and feeding of your sponsor(s)

Keep them informed of what you're doing. Both set-backs and successes.

If at all possible involve them. Invite them to see your "in process" KSR. Invite them to the race, to this workshop, perhaps to the racer's dinner as your guest. Invite them to be part of your event support team. (Note: THey'll likely decline nearly all offers. It's the invitation that's important!)

Make tie-ins with your sponsor's organization whenever possible. (Handouts, bribes, pageantry, your KSR design, etc.) Be sure your sponsor's organization is always portrayed in a positive manner.

Follow though on everything you've promised your sponsor and in some manner let your sponsor know you've done it. (Give them photos, news releases, etc.)

Other considerations

The approach to a large corporation will be different from a small business.

The business has to be able to justify the expense to the taxman.

Most businesses are approached for donations at levels that far exceed what they can do.

Keep in mind that for a small business every donation is essentially a personal donation. Unless there are real benefits to the business it lowers their take-home pay!

Many businesses are more comfortable donating product or support services than actual monney.

Perhaps the KSR group could prepare a packet that individual racer's could use in contacting potential sponsors.