How a donation is different from a sponsorship and what is the advantage to you?
Donations are different from sponsorships, as a sponsorship is more likely to headline you for an event whereas a donation will let you be listed as one of the many donors. You do not need to headline every event to get business attention; you can simply donate an amount of funds and be listed. You may find that donors are listed in categories of the amount donated. The donations may be cash or they may be donations in kind. For example a service club is putting on a fund-raiser and needs to have donations of items for a silent auction and they also need to have cash donations to offset the cost of the event. You will then be able to decide which is better for you and your company. Cash is always welcomed but the item you donate may bring more attention. If an item is unique plus in demand, the item will have bidders warring over the purchase of it during the bidding.
You can donate a major item that will go to a live auction or you may have it as a silent auction item that people read about and see on the tables. You may also donate a door prize that catches attention. I know a person that always donates items to charity events and she is very well known in the community for her involvement and the donations she makes. She sells small make-up related items but everyone knows what she does and the products she sells. When you are looking for such items, it is likely you will call her, so donations do work!
When you approach a business that is involved in the community event you donated to, you will have a common bond with that business. You will then have an opening topic of conversation that can lead to better business relationships. You will also have a list of people that you can contact for help in your business.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com |
