Organizations can rarely thrive on ticket sales alone. Many are looking for ways to boost donations and elevate their fundraising opportunities, and sponsorships are a great way to do just that. Sponsorships go beyond basic donations or basic sales in a way to combine the two into one location where a customer can purchase a sponsorship and receive benefits – be it tickets, experiences, and more.
By offering customized perks, you open up a new revenue opportunity and a new way to engage families, supporters, and even businesses, as they can invest in your organization while receiving advanced benefits in return.
What are BookTix sponsorships, and how do they work?
BookTix sponsorships allow organizations to create structured giving tiers that a customer can purchase, much like a ticket. Each tier can include any unique benefit that you would like – from VIP seating to special merchandise to intangible experiences. Sponsorships can thus be set up as “Bronze Tier”, which might give a customer a ticket to each show and their name in the program, while the “Gold Tier” might give a customer 2 tickets to each show, a name plaque on the seat on their choice, and an invite to the season’s gala. These offer ways to go beyond just a season package, to offer benefits that surpass what a customer can simply purchase.
ACTION STEP: Explore the Sponsorship option from your BookTix dashboard, and consider the sponsorship levels you want to offer.
How can I use the benefits within a sponsorship?
Benefits are those extra little perks you can include within your sponsorship to add value. These are great for experiences that wouldn’t be something you can purchase on their own – like VIP table service, or a preferred parking spot. These benefits are a way to make those supporters feel like they’re receiving something that goes above and beyond, and can be a way to say “thank you.” You can use it to add a benefit like access to a preview night, social media promotions, post-show reception invites, free drinks at your events, and more. These perks, be it big or small, are a way to make your customers feel appreciated. Additionally, when they feel like they’re getting something extra with their purchase, they’ll be more likely to renew year after year, and even commit to a higher sponsorship level in the future.
ACTION STEP: List out 5-10 benefits your organization could offer, ranging from low cost to premium options.
How do sponsorships help with fundraising?
Unlike a one-time donation, sponsorships create a long-term relationship with your organization. This is because the customers have multiple benefits from said sponsorship that will keep them returning to your organization. They encourage customers, and businesses, to invest at higher levels because they have more opportunities to receive more benefits. Sponsors will also appreciate this exchange of value within visibility, perks, and recognition, as it makes the contribution feel more like a partnership than a simple donation. This will in turn help you beyond the financial element, as it provides a way for those customers to naturally promote your event, bringing in more customers and potential donors. At the same time, existing customers will be more invested when they have opportunities to “level up” their support because of the perks offered. This can combine expanding your customer base and engaging for long term relationships, which helps your organization grow.
ACTION STEP: Mix and match your benefit ideas to start crafting your sponsorship levels.
How can I manage my sponsors?
When selling sponsorships via BookTix, all of their data is automatically logged. This means comprehensive reports that show you details and trends regarding who your sponsors are and what their buying patterns are like. You can see what tickets or merchandise has been redeemed, and because those extra benefits don’t require additional steps, you can know that you have the power when it comes to fulfilling or providing anything else on a customer’s behalf. You can view and manage that information from within the system, seeing how it compares with single ticket buyers, which will help you understand how to engage with your supporters overall.
ACTION STEP: Set up a sponsorship that includes multiple levels with your assorted benefits.
How does this support my organization in the long term?
Sponsorships go beyond just raising funds, or just selling a package to a buyer. Sponsorships ultimately offer a way to build a relationship with a customer. They create a reason to be in contact with your organization beyond just a single event, making for long term donors, customers, and advocates. You’re providing perks to your customers through sponsorships that make them feel more seen and celebrated, which builds a stronger and longer lasting relationship. They get to feel like a part of your organization through the perks you provide, and it builds a community that can last beyond a sale.
ACTION STEP: After you’ve sold some sponsorships, use that data and create a follow up plan – be it a thank you message, an invite, or more information on how to use their benefits.
