Sponsorship Strategist

Parting ways, new beginnings

Today's Philadelphia Inquirer reports that PNC Bank will no longer sponsor the Philadelphia International Flower Show, a decision they'd made and informed the Flower Show of two years ago. The bank is looking to sponsor other opportunities, and new leadership at the Flower Show is positive about its ideas to partner with the corporate sector in 2012 and beyond, according to the article. These will be tough shoes to fill, for both sides. From outward appearances, PNC Bank was a great partner, growing with the event, committed in all the right ways, and taking full advantage of the opportunity. A... 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 →

Sponsorship Realities: Gail Bower's Predictions for 2011

If you’ve been operating at a frenetic pace, trying to outsmart the economy, you may not have stopped to look around and notice what’s going on in the world around you, the sponsorship world, that is. This special report provides you with five observations I’ve made that absolutely will have an impact on organizations’ abilities to generate revenue through partnerships with the corporate sector. Consider this insider intelligence to help you plan your 2011 sponsorship strategy. Download Sponsorship Realities 2011 P.S. A day after I wrote the special report, I read this post. To me it's an indicator that my... Read more →

Ask the right questions when considering events

The accelerated pace at which we live coupled with the prevalence of "glowing rectangles" in our lives (90 percent of our time, according to The Onion, which sometimes seems pretty close, right?) occasionally can cause us to minimize the importance of human connections in our lives. As many of us gathered around dining room tables to give thanks and eat turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, perhaps circuitry shifted a bit. Time with family and friends allows us to reconnect with what's most important in life. To drop down to the human level. That connection to the human is what... Read more →

Announcing: 7 teleseminars for nonprofit and event leaders on corporate sponsorship, marketing communications, event topics

Would you benefit from enhancing your skills and knowledge working with corporate sponsors, conceptualizing and producing events, or communicating more powerfully with key audiences of your organization? Please join me for BowerPower Programs, a series of 6 teleseminars, plus a bonus session, on corporate sponsorship, event, and marketing communications topics, designed to improve your results in these areas for 2010. Check out the details of all 6 teleseminars. Be sure to register early, before June 25. You'll automatically be registered for the bonus teleseminar, Jump-Start Your 2010 Sponsorship Strategy, on July 7, which will provide an update on what's changed... Read more →

IFEA Book Reviewer Calls Gail's Corporate Sponsorship Guidebook a "Must-Read"

IFEA, the leading industry association for festival and event leaders worldwide, released its review by Ira L. Rosen, CFEE, of my guidebook, How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times, in the latest issue of ie magazine. See below and scroll to page 15 to read why he believes the book's ideas and recommendations are "incredibly valuable." As a special bonus, if you scroll to page 32 in the magazine, you can also read an article I wrote, entitled 5 Trends in Corporate Sponsorship and What They Mean for You. 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 →

Self-deprecating humor saves the Olympic day

Most of us have forgotten about the annoying technical glitch that marred the symmetry and perfection of the Opening Ceremony lighting of the indoor Olympic cauldron on February 12. Four arms were supposed to rise from their own trap doors in the floor and meet in a criss-crossing pattern above the heads of 4 Canadian athletes poised with flames to light the Olympic symbol. One of the arms refused to emerge from the ground, leaving NBC announcers to speculate and an awkward moment for the audience. But the show must go on. And it did. Tonight, two weeks later, the... Read more →

Wondering why corporate sponsorship for your nonprofit is confusing?

Even if you can't, you'll have to get used to the new handle. City officials yesterday announced that Wawa Inc. is the new title sponsor of the July Fourth festival, replacing Sunoco Inc., which had been associated with the multi-day event since the mid-1990s. via www.philly.com Congratulations to Welcome America! and Wawa on a new partnership for Philadelphia's 4th of July festivities. You can read all about it at this link. Take particular note of Sunoco's comments. It's not unusual for corporations to take a different approach with their marketing dollars, especially in times of changing market conditions, which the... Read more →

Tough year for Olympic sponsorship, including funding for athletes

Other members of the U.S. team that will march into Vancouver's BC Place when the Winter Games open there Friday have had to cut grass, bus tables, or rely on Mom and Dad for the financial support it takes to win an Olympic medal. via www.philly.com Like many creative business owners, the Olympic athletes turned to their entrepreneurial selves to raise money to support their Olympic dreams. They and the Olympic organizers had challenges securing corporate sponsors for Vancouver. You know times are tough when these athletes and Games struggled. All the more reason to watch the games. Join me... Read more →