Running an event is a costly experience. Even for small events, costs can ramp up quickly and out of budget if you are not prepared for issues that might pop up. With event costs rising yearly, you will want to bring in revenue from as many channels as possible. Luckily, sponsors are here to make event costs easier to manage and to help generate significant revenue for your event. This is why event sponsorship packages are crucial: because they help you get more sponsors.

An event sponsor is an individual, company, or organization that provides contributions or financial support for an event in exchange for various benefits, such as brand exposure, marketing opportunities, networking, or goodwill. Event sponsors typically contribute funds, goods, services, or promotional support to help cover the costs of organizing and hosting the event. In return, they receive recognition, advertising, or other forms of visibility before, during, and after the event, depending on the terms of the sponsorship agreement. Sponsors often see events as opportunities to reach a targeted audience, enhance their brand image, or align themselves with a particular cause or community.

When a company wants to learn more about your event, they will want to know how they benefit from sponsoring. Every sponsor has different goals, but common benefits include: 

An event sponsorship package is a structured offering or proposal presented by an event organizer to potential sponsors. It outlines the various sponsorship opportunities available for businesses or individuals interested in supporting the event. These packages are typically tailored to different levels of sponsorship and include a range of benefits and promotional opportunities based on the sponsor’s financial contribution.

You will likely have this information about event sponsorships in a PDF, which you can post on your event website and have your sales team share with interested sponsors. In your event sponsorship package, you want to include the following information:

When it comes to event sponsorship packages, tiers have to be considered. Not every sponsor is going to be equal based on the amount of money they contribute and what they are looking to get in terms of sponsoring your event. This is where sponsorship tiers come into play. You will want to build a sense of exclusivity for your higher sponsor tiers, so you will also want to limit the number of sponsorship opportunities. 

For example, you can use the following tiers:

Ideally, you want to put the event sponsorship tiers into an easy-to-understand chart. An example sponsorship tiers chart is provided below:

As mentioned earlier, companies want unique benefits for sponsoring your event. There is a “pay to play” element because companies who spend the most will want exclusive benefits. Here are a few suggestions for sponsorship benefits you can provide: 

Attendees need a place to recharge physically and mentally during an event. Give sponsors the opportunity to have their branding and some swag so attendees can learn more about them while they are relaxing and “recharging” during the event.

Even with the proper planning, a phone’s battery can quickly die out during an event. Even though smartphones are becoming more powerful, their battery lives haven’t made the same progress. Attendees will need a phone charging station to help them manage their battery lives, so this will be a great way for sponsors to get their branding noticed. 

If your event includes live streaming, include the sponsor’s logo in the stream. You can usually do this with a “Sponsors” section in the live stream of the video. If you create a post-video event, ensure a section is dedicated to thanking your sponsors. 

Post-event parties and happy hours are a great way to recover from the fatigue of running around the event floor all day or manning a booth. Use these parties as a way to promote a sponsor so they can have even more people become aware of who they are in a fun and relaxed setting.

Many companies who sponsor want the option to get directly in the face of attendees. Depending on your event type, there are going to be speakers or working sessions (for educational conferences). Speaking opportunities are the most coveted because people will sit down and listen to the speaker. 

Mid-tier sponsors may not be able to get a speaking opportunity. If your event has a panel, they can pay to host it, with one of their employees serving as the moderator.

Everyone loves free stuff, especially if it’s useful or cool. Allow sponsors to provide branded merchandise like t-shirts, water bottles, or notebooks for attendees. It’s a win-win: attendees get freebies, and sponsors get their logos seen outside the event.

Create an exclusive VIP experience for sponsors, giving them access to high-profile networking events or private meet-and-greets with keynote speakers. VIP treatment not only makes sponsors feel valued but also encourages them to invest more in future events.

Develop a customized event app or integrate special features into an existing one, such as sponsored push notifications, branded gamification elements, or interactive maps highlighting sponsor locations. This not only enhances the attendee experience but also ensures sponsor visibility throughout the event.

Swag bags are a staple at many events, offering attendees a collection of goodies to take home. Allow sponsors to include branded items in these bags or even feature their logos prominently on the bags themselves, ensuring exposure long after the event ends.

Harness the power of social media by offering sponsors dedicated posts, sponsored ads, or even temporary account takeovers leading up to and during the event. This extends their reach to a wider audience and generates buzz before, during, and after the event.

Create interactive experiences or zones within the event space that are sponsored by specific companies. Whether it’s a virtual reality demo, a product showcase, or a hands-on workshop, these branded experiences offer attendees a memorable engagement opportunity while showcasing sponsor products or services.

Feature sponsor logos prominently in event marketing materials such as emails, flyers, posters, and digital advertisements. Highlighting sponsors in promotional materials not only boosts their visibility but also reinforces their association with the event.

Ensure sponsors’ branding is prominently displayed throughout the event venue with banners, signage, digital screens, or floor decals. Strategic placement in high-traffic areas ensures maximum exposure and reinforces brand recognition among attendees.

Organize exclusive networking dinners or luncheons where sponsors can interact with key stakeholders, industry influencers, and potential clients in a more intimate setting. These events foster meaningful connections and partnerships, adding value to sponsors’ investment.

Create interactive gaming zones sponsored by companies looking to engage attendees in a fun and competitive environment. Whether it’s virtual reality experiences, arcade games, or eSports tournaments, these zones offer sponsors an opportunity to showcase their products or services in an entertaining way.

Partner with food and beverage companies to provide sponsored refreshment stations, coffee bars, or branded snacks throughout the event venue. Sponsors can customize menus or offer special discounts, enhancing the attendee experience while promoting their brand.

Collaborate with musicians, comedians, or performers to offer live entertainment sponsored by companies seeking to leave a lasting impression on attendees. Whether it’s a live band, a stand-up comedy show, or a magic performance, sponsored entertainment adds excitement and energy to the event.

Set up interactive photo booths sponsored by companies looking to create memorable experiences and social media buzz. Attendees can take fun photos with branded props and filters, instantly share them online, and leave with printed keepsakes featuring sponsor logos.

Introduce sustainability initiatives and green sponsorship options that align with sponsors’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals. Whether it’s offsetting carbon emissions, minimizing waste, or supporting eco-friendly practices, these initiatives appeal to environmentally conscious sponsors and attendees alike.

Companies love to sponsor for branding purposes (and get backlinks). A sponsor web page is a requirement for any event you host. To give you an example of what a sponsor’s page should look like, here are some best-in-class examples from companies like Adobe Summit, Dreamforce, and INBOUND.

Social proof is always a great conversion tool. If you have used sponsors for past events, reach out to them to get quotes about how they benefited from sponsoring your event. You can include these testimonials on your website and event sponsorship document so potential sponsors can see why your event is worth sponsoring. 

Event sponsorships are valuable because they generate revenue and make your event more credible. With a well-built event sponsorship package, you can easily communicate your event’s value to sponsors. Remember to include different sponsorship tiers at varying price points so more companies can get involved. Make it clear what each sponsor will receive, use exclusivity to your advantage, and make your sponsorship packages enticing.

Automation makes sponsor management easy as part of the EventUp Planner platform. With our Workflow features, you can manage and add sponsors by tiers. You can then use the Sponsor Block in our website builder (CMS) to pull information directly from the platform to the website. Using our event app would also pull the data to the event app.

If you need to edit anything, you just need to edit the settings and republish the website and app to update the information, so you don’t need to change it everywhere manually. EventUp Planner (formerly Attendease) is a powerful event management software and automation platform designed specifically for corporate event teams. By helping you address the entire event lifecycle, EventUp Planner can reduce event costs and make events easier to run. Request a demo to find out how this all-in-one platform can help improve your workflows.