From the Answer Desk: Finding Sponsorships

Q: What is "sponsorship" and how can my organization get started with this type of support?

A: Sponsorship is a funding arrangement where one party (usually a corporation or business) pays, in part or entirely, for the project or event of another party (in this case, a nonprofit organization) and receives wide acknowledgement and visibility in return.

One way to begin finding grantmakers interested in sponsorships is by using Foundation Directory Online. A quick search in the Professional version for "Sponsorships" in Types of Support yields nearly 700 results.  Foundation Directory Online Professional is available for free use at the Foundation Center-Cleveland and all Ohio Cooperating Collections.

Learn more about getting started with sponsorships by reading an excerpt [PDF] from the book Made Possible By (available in our library). Written by Patricia Martin, this step-by-step guide shows you how to identify potential partners and negotiate terms. The Foundation Center's FAQ, "How Can I Find Corporate Sponsorship?" provides additional, helpful links for investigating sponsorship and how to secure them.

Do you have a question? Ask Us!

(This post is from Katie Artzner, the Foundation Center's online librarian)