SPONSORSHIP GUIDEfor clubs and societiesIntroductionThis guide has been produced to help committees who are looking to secure sponsorship for their respective clubs or societies. The premise for this guide is to help clarify the process which you need to go through in obtaining a sponsor, reminding you of the responsibilities this entails, and ultimately protecting your student group.Within this guide are a few notes about sponsorship, the questions you should consider when approaching a potential sponsor and establishing an agreement. Also included are some suggested methods of sponsorship and also a step by step guide through the process you need to undertake to make your sponsorship agreement official.At the back of this guide you will also find three forms. There is a sample proposal letter which you can amend and send to potential sponsors, a Proposal Form, on which you can outline what it is you hope to get and finally a Sponsorship Contract Document.Important things to ConsiderBelow are four key things to consider when looking to establish sponsorship for your club/society;1. Sponsorship is a Two-Way ThingSadly it is very rare that you get money for nothing and sponsorship is no different. You must remember when seeking sponsorship that any agreement you come to will be a two-way thing. You and your club or society will be expected to honour obligations in order to maintain the sponsorship, so dont expect to take the money and run.2. Keep it Simple and RealisticThe more straightforward your sponsorship agreement, the easier it will be to uphold. Dont enter into an agreement if you are not confident that you and your club or society will be able to honour your end of the partnership. Remember, not everyone in your club and society will share your commitment, so think of your members and what they will be prepared to give in return for sponsorship.3. Be in it for the Short HaulThe make up of your club and society will change each year with new members and new committee members. As a result, what you are prepared to do for sponsorship, and indeed what you need to gain from it will vary from year to year. With this in mind, it can be risky to commit to lengthy sponsorship agreements, as in the future they may not seem such a good deal. Our advice would be to seek agreements on a yearly basis, as it is much easier to renew a short term contract you are happy with than break a long term one which no longer suits your needs.4. Seek Common GoalsAs sponsorship represents a partnership, it is best to approach potential sponsors to whom you know you can offer something genuine in return. Think about companies or businesses which you and your club or society are regularly in contact with, or those who have similar aims to yourselves.What the Sponsor can do for youIts not all about the money. Although a financial contribution is what most clubs and societies will seek from their sponsor there are more varied ways in which a sponsor can aid your club or society.1. Provide FinanceThe most obvious contribution a sponsor can make to your club or society is to give you money in return for advertising or use of their product or business.2. Provide KitA sponsor may provide kit or clothing for your club or society in return for their name being displayed on it. Please check with the SU that any kit is line with the agreement with Samurai.3. DiscountsIf you and your club or society are regular customers of a particular business, then you may be able to negotiate sponsorship in the form of a discount. This could be money off equipment or supplies ordered from a specific shop, a reduced admission price to events when taking all of your club or society along, or a discount when hiring specific services or facilities.4. Offer Facilities or VenueIf your club or society has specific equipment or facility needs that cannot be met by the Union or the University, then effective sponsorship for you may take the form of an agreement for the use of a more tailored venue. A company may be willing to let you use their venue in return for advertising or your involvement in their other activities.What you can do for the SponsorIt is important to remember that as a club or society you can offer much more to potential sponsors than just a t-shirt with their logo on it. Playing kit sponsorship may be highly prized in professional sport, but there is a chance that your sponsors will not see it as such an effective marketing tool at university level. So, be prepared to think outside the box and use the strengths of your particular group to find something that can benefit both your club or society and any potential sponsors.1. AdvertisingHelping to get a companys name into the University and the community is the most accepted form of sponsorship. This can be done through displaying the sponsors logo on playing, training or socia