When it comes to peer to peer fundraising strategies, getting companies to sponsor your event is a good way to go. But, figuring out how to get a company to sponsor you isn’t exactly common knowledge. Gaspard, Zeffy’s resident cyclist, triathlete and ironman wants to help.
Once you’ve made your sponsorship proposal, you’ll need to write a brief letter or email to send along with it. Your letter doesn’t need to be too long and it shouldn’t repeat everything in your sponsorship proposal. It really is just to introduce yourself, your nonprofit organization, the fundraising event, and a few details about your goal.
Of course, the letter should be persuasive and professional, but adding a personal touch can go a long way. So, include a personal story and remember to double check the businesses information before you send it.
How to write a letter looking for sponsorship for you and your nonprofit.
Gaspard has generously provided the template he uses to write his letter when he’s asking for company sponsorships. But, if you’d like to write your own letter for sponsorship, here’s a step-by-step guide to help:
1. Start with your name, nonprofit organization, contact info, and date.
- We suggest using the usual header formatting for a formal letter.
2. Then add the information of the business you’re sending it to.
- Make sure to address the letter to the right person or department.
3. Begin with a friendly and engaging introduction:
- Introduce yourself and explain why you’ve sent this letter.
4. Provide some context about your peer-to-peer event.
- Describe the cause, mission, or purpose of the event and why it is important.
- Include details such as the event’s date, location, expected attendance.
5. Briefly explain the sponsorship opportunity you are offering.
- Explain the benefits and exposure the business will receive by sponsoring your event. (Anything that will help them understand that sponsoring you will be good for business.)
6. Personalize your letter as much as you can.
- Research the business and find connections between their values, products, or services, and your event.
- Personalize the letter by mentioning why you think they’re such a good fit.
7. Mention that there are a few different sponsorship levels.
- Give a few examples of some of the perks: logo placement, mentions in promotional materials, social media exposure, or speaking engagements.
8. Say thank you and mention that you will follow up with them to chat about their involvement.
9. End your letter with a clear call-to-action.
- Mention your contact information again and encourage them to reach out with any questions.
10. Proofread and edit your letter.
- Review the letter for any grammar or spelling errors.
- Make sure their name(s) and business information is accurate. (There’s nothing worse than leaving a mention of another business in your letter.)
- Read it aloud or have someone else proofread it for additional feedback.
Remember, a personal story or anecdote can go a long way to help the business connect with you and your cause. So, personalize your letter and tailor it to the specific business.
We’ve made a nonprofit sponsorship letter template to help get you started.
Starting is the hardest part. So, we worked with Gaspard to make you a helpful Google Doc template for your next sponsorship letter.
Download Zeffy’s sponsorship letter template here.
We’ve got more tools that break down how to get companies to sponsor you and your nonprofit.
We didn’t stop with a sponsorship letter. We’ve written how-tos and made some templates for:
Peer-to-peer fundraising toolkit: How to get companies to sponsor you.
Peer-to-peer fundraising toolkit: How to write a sponsorship proposal.
Peer-to-peer fundraising toolkit: How to make a one-page leave behind.
Oh, and remember to say thank you!
Meet Gaspard!
Hey there 🙂
My name is Gaspard and I’m working as a Sales Representative at Zeffy. Since I started, I’ve learned a lot about the day-to-day realities of nonprofit organizations. Even when challenges arise (pandemic), I see so much dedication, passion and resilience from all the organizations I work with. But, what fulfils me the most about my work is that I get to meet so many people that want to do good for the world. It truly is a privilege.
On a personal level, I’m an avid cyclist and currently training for an Ironman. Also, over the last 3 years, I've organized a fundraising campaign for Québec Food Banks. This work has helped me understand how challenging it can be to create and organize an event. All of my work, training and volunteer experience has really helped me help nonprofits grow year over year with Zeffy.
Cheers, Gasp.
