A Quick Guide to Co-Sponsorship
So you have a great program idea for campus! But unfortunately you don’t have the money.
What do you do?
1) Figure out your budget – what will everything cost, what funding do you have available,
what funding do you need? (Note: think outside just a program fee – what are set-up costs
or transportation costs? Do you want to have food at a part of the event?)
Let’s take Students for Social Justice event (S4SJ) “Behind the Swoosh” Fair Labor Event as
an example.
S4SJ Costs:$0
“Behind the Swoosh” Program Fee: $4500
Event set-up and media: $200
Food for event: $200
Total Cost: $4900
S4SJ Funding:$0
COSO - $1000
Total Funds: $1000
Total Need: $3900
2) Identify potential sponsors. Think of other student clubs, academic departments,
campus initiatives, etc whose content relate to that of your program. (Note: leverage you
and your group’s personal contacts – professors you know well, mentors, friends in other
clubs).
- Think outside the box! There are probably many ways that the subject of your
event can relate to other groups (EX: S4SJ’s Fair Labor event relates obviously to
Economics and the Business School --- but also to Applied Ethics, Politics,
International Studies – and “stretching” further Philosophy and Religious Studies.)
- Think even further outside the box! Who are unconventional donors that might be
interested in your event? (EX: S4SJ’s Israeli/Palestinian event received support from
Fairfield Marketing, Global Citizenship/Cities “University Theme,” Dean of Academic
Engagement, and Core Integration).
- Would FUSA Programming be interested in co-sponsoring the event with you?
Programmers are looking for new and interesting campus events, so they might be
interested in helping!
- One of our favorite co-sponsorships: Living and Learning Communities! They have
a great fund and always looking to bring great events to their communities – they
also have their own funding for food in the form of a dinner series. This is a great
complement to any event!
3) Once you have a list of people you think should be interested, reach out to them!
- Prepare a general draft (project pitch) that describes your project
- Next, tailor your draft to each specific place (adding a paragraph about why
it relates to them)
- In your project pitch, indicate what you want out of co-sponsorship – funding,
advertising, planning etc. ALWAYS invite them to suggest their own level of
participation (some groups will want to participate in all aspects, like FUSA, and
some will just want to give money)
- Then, send out your email or use your draft as talking points in a meeting!
4) Incorporate the co-sponsors at their indicated level of interest
5) Make sure to send them updates as well as a flyer, so they can get their group involved!
A great benefit of co-sponsorship is wider and more diversified attendance. Stress to your
co-sponsors that you are interested in them spreading the word to their members!
6) Thank them at the event!
7) Send thank you notes and a summary of the event (any photos etc!) after it takes place.