“Please, help us get more event sponsors!”
That’s the plea we hear most often from nonprofit leaders to their board members.
Nonprofit leaders, board members, and marketers face a tough challenge with securing event sponsors. Much of the challenge stems from the restrictions imposed by the IRS when recognizing the sponsor for their contribution. Event sponsorship is not advertising, so the return on investment isn’t as impactful as a sponsor’s advertising campaigns.
The IRS is clear about how you can recognize a sponsor for their contribution so that you do not affect your nonprofit’s tax-exempt status. Something as simple as the landing page you hyperlink the sponsor logo to can move the sponsor’s contribution from a donation to taxable income.
The IRS restrictions make it difficult for nonprofits to demonstrate that their events are good publicity investments. However, the publicity we are allowed to provide is nothing to write home about from a marketing standpoint.
So, how do you increase sponsor revenue for special events and programs in ways that adhere to tax status requirements while still showing value to sponsors?
If you have been struggling with increasing sponsor revenue, or with the challenge of getting sponsors in general, please our on-demand leadership learning webinar in the Nonprofit Marketing Academy. The training is free.
How To Build A High-Revenue Sponsor Program For Your Nonprofit
Duration: One Hour
Date/Time: On-Demand, available anytime.
Webinar Takeaways:
- A review of what business sponsors need from their investment
- Three steps for adding value to your sponsor packages
- A look at modern events gaining the attention of sponsors
