Sponsorship Strategist

Don't ask about ROI if you're not really a sponsor

Several corporate representatives recently have asked me about the ROI of their nonprofit sponsorships. They’re wondering how they should be structuring these partnerships for the best results. Then they drop in an important detail. Read more →

Up your game: improve your performance to succeed with sponsorship

High performing organizations and individuals have a competitive advantage over low performing ones. Considering the competition that your organization faces for sponsorship dollars — and not just from other nonprofits or associations — upping your game will make a difference between mediocre and meteoric results. Read more →

Another sponsorship nightmare

No matter whether we are sponsoring an event or initiative or working with the sponsors of our events or initiatives, we want things to go well. Really well. Yet some things are out of our control. . . or are they? The other day a group of protestors led a demonstration against PNC Bank, the presenting sponsor of the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society's Philadelphia International Flower Show, which runs through this weekend. Besides the event being an exceptional one, The Flower Show is one of the best examples of event sponsorship in Philadelphia. Check it out if you're in town. PNC... Read more →

Think like a starving artist, and you won't starve

One day last week, I left a meeting with someone who is under a great deal of pressure because of current budget squeezes that impact her nonprofit organization's funding. The physical sensations of stress she described were indelible, and I felt a great deal of empathy as I walked through the City towards my office. I passed the Merriam Theatre in Philadelphia, and a crowd spilling out onto the sidewalk, hours before showtime, piqued my curiousity. Then I heard drumming. Stomp was in town, and at this very moment, they were conducting a masterclass for high school-aged – and very... Read more →

Business Support for the Arts Dropped From 2006 to 2009, Survey Finds. Find out why.

While the economic downturn has resulted in fewer companies making philanthropic contributions to the arts, those companies that have continued their support actually gave a slightly greater share of their charitable dollars, a new survey from the Business Committee for the Arts finds. via foundationcenter.org Thanks to Margie Salvante, Executive Director of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, for forwarding this story and the key message, found at the end of the third paragraph: "The survey also found that 63 percent of respondents would boost their giving to the arts if the contributions had a direct impact on their bottom... Read more →

Spring & Corporate Sponsorship at the Flower Show

After a couple blizzards, trudging around in snow, pretty at first, gets tiresome. This week, I headed to the famed Philadelphia International Flower Show to remind myself that spring indeed will arrive. The beautiful show did not disappoint, even if some of the displays reminded visitors of the cold. Walking into a fantasy land of flowers, I can't wait for warm weather. Another reason I attended the show was to check out the sponsorship activation. The Flower Show is one of the best sponsorship developers in Philadelphia, and I always appreciate the obvious guidance and hard work of their staff.... Read more →

Supporting the culture of China

Like in the U.S., historic sites, museums, and other nonprofit organizations in China also are contending with a decrease in government funding and exploring ways to increase revenue from other sources, including corporate sponsorship. My friend and colleague from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Carrie Hood, who traveled with me to China joined us for a meeting with representatives from both the China Great Wall Society and the overseer for the Badaling section of the Great Wall, closest to Beijing. We learned so much about the creative ways the China Great Wall Society is building visibility, support, engagement,... Read more →

Strive to integrate

Strive to integrate your two brands into your sponsorship opportunities. Here's a great example of what I mean. Lincoln Center has partnered with The Wall Street Journal to present Summer Scoops Live with The Wall Street Journal. It works extremely well because: The name of the series relates to both brands' strengths. The visual identity of this series incorporates The Wall Street Journal's trademark use of line drawings, rather than photos, to illustrate the text. Most importantly, the series enriches the audience members' experiences of either Lincoln Center's programming – several events preview upcoming events at Lincoln Center – or... Read more →

Corporate Sponsorship is Not Dead

If you were in Philadelphia today and needed an inspirational experience to revive your sponsorship selling efforts or to inject some creativity into your own corporate program, the Arts & Business Council's annual luncheon and awards presentation was the place to be. Story after story about the super heros who make the business of the arts an art form inspired everyone. (It was also a fine example of elegant corporate sponsorship integration and activation.) And for those of you disheartened by media reports about the state of our economy and what it means for sponsorship, take heart. Sponsorship is not... Read more →