All Sponsorship MUST have a signed contract to outline what your society and the sponsor are ‘giving’ and ‘getting’.
Remember – ALL sponsorship contracts must be signed by us first (not you) for them to be valid.
Society-Sponsorship-Contract-2022-23
Download and edit the red text
207KB
SPONSORSHIP – GET STARTED
Sponsorship is a great way for your society to BOTH:
Gain Money
Save Money
Payment from sponsors – We’ll invoice them upon receiving the signed contract
Discounts from sponsors (suppliers or venues) or an offer to pay for equipment or kit
There are 2 types of sponsors you can target:
External Sponsorship – Relevant outside organisations and businesses can be approached for sponsorship i.e. Pharmacy Society could approach a pharmaceutical company; Vegan/ Vegetarian Society may approach Infinity Foods.
School Sponsorship – Approach your School of study for sponsorship of Academic Events. Do this as early on as possible as there will be a limit on the amount of sponsorship awarded (get in first).
1. FIND YOUR SPONSOR
Finding out ‘who’ to approach for sponsorship is really important.
Take a few minutes to identify your Society’s own unique selling points, this will narrow the ‘type’ of companies to contact. There is no point in a Music Society approaching a Sport Shop for sponsorship, because the chances are unlikely that it will be a successful effort.
Thinking Exercise
What category does you society fit into? (Academic, Creative, Culture, Political, Liberation, Leisure, Charity or Faith) What local businesses/organisations/brands are also in that category?
2 mins
It’s also worthwhile asking family and friends who might know of someone, a company or organisation which could be worth approaching. Often this is something we overlook.
Becky French - Activities Manager
Although there are some key sponsors that aren’t allowed, there are thousands of pounds of sponsors out there for you to find! Click the document below for some ideas of who you can and can’t request sponsorship from!
Possible Sponsors & Definite No-Go's
107KB
2.1 PREPARE YOUR PROPOSAL
What can you GIVE?
Next you need to gather everything your society has done or is doing, in order to make a really enticing offer they can’t refuse!
Audience – Number of members in your society, potential student market i.e. 20,000 UoB students viewing your webpage, seeing you on campus wearing society hoodie
Achievements – Photos of your society stall at Freshers’ Fair/ Refreshers’ Fair and events you’ve hosted
Example Promotion – Posters, their advert on your BSU webpage and on your society email signature, promoting them at your events…
Future Plans – Personalised clothing (society hoodies) they could add their logo too?
2.2 PREPARE YOUR PROPOSAL
What can you GET?
Make a list of things your society would like in return or what you would spend the money on (so they know it is being used constructively)
3. CONTACT POTENTIAL SPONSOR
Now you’re ready to contact the potential sponsor!
Large Company – Ask if there is a Marketing Director (which tends to be the person who controls the sponsorship budgets)
Small / Local Company? Ask for the General Manager or CEO
Choose ‘how’ you are going to contact them. Use our resources:
To help you know what to say, check out our
To help you know what to write, check out our
Society-Sponsorship-Contract-2022-23
Edit the 'Red Text' to make it your own!
207KB
Email Template
Edit to suit you!
217KB
Letter Template
Edit to suit you!
93KB
Follow up Phone Conversation Template
Edit to suit you!
128KB
4. GET THAT AGREEMENT SIGNED!
Once you’ve found your sponsor and they’re keen to sponsor you, edit the red text in the Society Contract Template (at the top of this page) to suit your agreement, then get it signed in this order:
Aaron Salins (BSU Sales & Contracts Manager) who will check the agreement is fair – 1st signature
Society President – 2nd signature
Finally take both copies (or scan and email) to your sponsor – 3rd signature
Once the contracts have been signed ‘both’ parties need a copy for reference as it is legally binding:
5. AFTER GETTING A SPONSOR
After you’ve set up your sponsorship, don’t forget to thank your sponsor and follow these guidelines to ensure things run smoothly:
Send them a formal email after each semester. An update of your society successes. Show them the activities you have completed that were agreed in the contract.
Invite your sponsor to events and send evidence you have promoted them (screenshots of your social media etc.)
Show them what you spent their money on
After the elections in March, introduce them to your new committee to keep the relationship going
Make sure your sponsor has kept their promise and paid your society/delivered their obligations. Don’t forget to thank them when you receive the funds!