CFMA Chapter “Best Practices” Model

Sponsorships

Chapter leaders were surveyed in September 2013 on how their chapter’s use sponsorships. Responses by chapter size are in this document. We share this information as a useful resource tool and hope that your chapter may benefit from this information.

Please contact Mike Molaro, Director, CFMA Chapter Services at 609-945-2412, or Cathy Wasner, Associate Director, CFMA Chapter Services at 609-945-2432, for additional information.

CFMA Chapter “Best Practices” Model

Sponsorships

Small Chapters (Up to 40 Members)

Does your chapter have sponsorships for its membership meetings and/or special events (golf tournament, awards banquet, scholarship programs, educational seminars, etc.)

  • Yes (6)

How many years has your chapter had sponsorships?

  • 4
  • 6
  • 10
  • More than 10
  • 11
  • 12

Do you typically have various sponsorship tiers/levels and do you limit the number of sponsorship opportunities available in each group?

  • We do not typically offer different tiers and we do limit the number of sponsors
  • Typically just for the golf outing. One level, hole sponsors @ $50 per hole.
  • Yes we only have sponsorships at the golf outing and the Executive of the Year dinner
  • We have multiple tiers but there are no limits on the number in each tier.
  • Yes
  • No

What type of signage/recognition do the sponsors receive, both at the event as well as pre- and post-event correspondence?

  • Sponsors are included in the advertising. Sponsors are allowed to bring a sign and say a few words at whatever event they are sponsoring.
  • Mentioned in the monthly newsletter and listed in the golf outing program
  • They have a sign at the golf outing and a sign and included in list of sponsorships in the dinner journal
  • We only have sponsors for our annual Putt-A-Thon. We have 3’ x 6’ banner hanging at the golf course, tee signs, and promotional items that we give away to each participant with the sponsor’s logo on the items. We also recognize them on a PowerPoint slide at each monthly luncheon for the next year.
  • For our annual event, they are listed on the save the date card, the brochure and postings at the event. They are acknowledged at the event as well.
  • No signage, we put them in our newsletter as chapter sponsors and they are verbally recognized at lunch meetings

What provisions, if any, are made for sponsors at these events?

  • None (4)
  • Just the advertising at the event
  • They receive admission to the event and are allowed to have a table/booth at the event.

Approximately what percentage of event cost do you attempt to cover through sponsorship income?

  • 10-20%
  • The sponsorship money is used to purchase gift cards for the outing’s prizes
  • None. We only have sponsorships where we are raising money for charity.
  • The entry fees cover the costs. The sponsor money is used to fund our Construction Career Alliance.
  • 100%
  • We don’t take event specific sponsors, we just have them sponsor for the year.

Approximately how much revenue does your chapter receive annually from sponsorships?

  • Very little, the revenue covers the cost of the event
  • $500-$1,000
  • $1,000-$2,000
  • $2,500-$5,000 but we also solicited donations for the endowment fund and have raised $76,000+/- for that from mainly corporate sponsors
  • $7,000

What restrictions are placed on sponsors “marketing themselves” to your members?

  • None (5)
  • Speakers are allowed to use handouts but not allowed to do marketing during the presentation. They are allowed to have a marketing table/booth but participate in a meet and greet during the event.

Any other information about sponsorships you would like to include.

  • We no longer have sponsors for our meetings, just for events
  • I believe it is extremely important to keep them active in our chapter.

CFMA Chapter “Best Practices” Model

Sponsorships

Medium Chapters (Up to 41-55 Members)

Does your chapter have sponsorships for its membership meetings and/or special events (golf tournament, awards banquet, scholarship programs, educational seminars, etc.)

  • Yes (3)

How many years has your chapter had sponsorships?

  • 2
  • This is the 3rd year for our golf outing
  • 10

Do you typically have various sponsorship tiers/levels and do you limit the number of sponsorship opportunities available in each group?

  • Yes, we have event sponsors, dinner sponsors, cart and beverage sponsors, along with hole sponsors
  • No (2)

What type of signage/recognition do the sponsors receive, both at the event as well as pre- and post-event correspondence?

  • We have hole, cart and beverage signs at our outing, along with dinner signs and event signs at our pre lunch and post dinner event
  • Signs, brochures, literature
  • Banners

What provisions, if any, are made for sponsors at these events?

  • The event sponsors speak and get free foursomes and dinner and lunch
  • Tables to have a display
  • None other than banners

Approximately what percentage of event cost do you attempt to cover through sponsorship income?

  • 100%
  • 25-50%
  • Varies

Approximately how much revenue does your chapter receive annually from sponsorships?

  • $1,000
  • $1,000-$1,500
  • $3,000, after $1,000 donation to Rebuilding Together Dayton

What restrictions are placed on sponsors “marketing themselves” to your members?

  • None
  • We ask for consideration for members and attendees
  • No sales pitches allowed. Banners and name recognition only.

CFMA Chapter “Best Practices” Model

Sponsorships

Medium/Large Chapters (56-90 Members)

Does your chapter have sponsorships for its membership meetings and/or special events (golf tournament, awards banquet, scholarship programs, educational seminars, etc.)

  • Yes (6)
  • No

If NO, What is the reason your chapter does not have sponsorships for meetings/events?

  • If a paid speaker comes in, we do seek sponsorships. Most presenters are volunteers and we only ask the members to pay a small fee to cover space and meal. Around $30 and very affordable.

How many years has your chapter had sponsorships?

  • This was the first year (2)
  • I’ve been with the chapter for 6 years and we’ve had sponsorships as long as I’ve been there
  • 20
  • For our golf tournament, 24 years

Do you typically have various sponsorship tiers/levels and do you limit the number of sponsorship opportunities available in each group?

  • Yes (2)
  • For golf we do have sponsorship, lunch, dinner and beverage sponsors
  • For our golf tournament we limit the number of platinum sponsors to 10. Otherwise, we do not limit.
  • No

What type of signage/recognition do the sponsors receive, both at the event as well as pre- and post-event correspondence?

  • Banner at event, names on take away items (i.e., koozies), names on invitations to event
  • Only recognize at event in program and have a sponsor sign made
  • Sponsors receive recognition (company logos) in all chapter meeting announcements (electronic) sent leading up to the event. They are also recognized at the event via verbal acknowledgements and signage at the event. Additionally, all event materials (programs for the awards banquet or handouts at the golf tournament) include a listing of the event sponsors and their levels. This year we have introduced sponsorship bundles in response to member requests for only writing one check for all events in a given year rather than writing numerous sponsorship checks. This has received tremendous support in its initial offering.
  • Signage, emcee makes an announcement, higher levels can set up booths or 5 minute intro
  • On all printed material in regard to the event along with announcement at event

What provisions, if any, are made for sponsors at these events?

  • None (4)
  • We recently rolled out sponsorship bundles as a means for members to write one sponsorship check for all events in a given year.

Approximately what percentage of event cost do you attempt to cover through sponsorship income?

  • As much as possible but this was our first one and it is a very small amount
  • 25-50%
  • None for regular networking or education events but at least 50% of the cost for the golf so we can keep the price of foursomes down
  • Try for 75%, realistically get 50%
  • We aim to break even or exceed event costs with sponsorship income

Approximately how much revenue does your chapter receive annually from sponsorships?

  • Less than 1%
  • $2,000
  • Depends on the year, normal year $5,000-$6,000, conference years $15,000
  • $5,000 or less
  • Approximately $25,000-$30,000

What restrictions are placed on sponsors “marketing themselves” to your members?

  • None (3)
  • Don’t impose any but we also don’t provide any attendee information to sponsors. They are welcome to have any communication they want during any networking event.
  • Each monthly lunch meeting sponsor is allotted 3 minutes to give a brief commercial about their company – most decline this opportunity. It is understood that our meetings and events are NOT to be abused in terms of soliciting business. Certainly business cards and contact information are exchanged, but it never feels pushy. Members do not have access to the membership distribution list.

Any other information about sponsorships you would like to include.

  • Sponsorships are vital to our chapter
  • Thinking about website sponsorships
  • I’ve had several associate members and other advise me that they are willing to sponsor activities, so the resource is available.

CFMA Chapter “Best Practices” Model

Sponsorships

Large Chapters (More than 90 Members)

Does your chapter have sponsorships for its membership meetings and/or special events (golf tournament, awards banquet, scholarship programs, educational seminars, etc.)

  • Yes (6)

How many years has your chapter had sponsorships?

  • A couple of years
  • 3
  • We’ve had sponsors for our annual wine event for 5 years but just started doing them for our monthly seminar meetings in June 2013
  • At least 5
  • At least 10, limited to the golf outing and charity event

Do you typically have various sponsorship tiers/levels and do you limit the number of sponsorship opportunities available in each group?

  • Yes and it depends
  • Yes, we have levels of platinum, gold and silver. We limit the platinum level to 1 sponsor.
  • We have 5 tiers and we limit 2 per meeting
  • Yes, typical golf outing tiers: hole sponsor, beverage cart sponsor, lunch sponsor, etc.
  • We have various sponsorship levels

What type of signage/recognition do the sponsors receive, both at the event as well as pre- and post-event correspondence?

  • Depends on the level of sponsorship. Easel at event, logo on marketing materials.
  • Notices, banners, after-event thank you. At some events, commemorative glasses, etc. have been distributed.
  • Ad on website, a verbal thank you at the meeting, an ad on our “save the date flyer” for our gold and silver level sponsors
  • Recognition in published materials as well as signage at the event.
  • Mention during meetings, signage, PowerPoints, meeting flyers

What provisions, if any, are made for sponsors at these events?

  • They get mentioned in our opening and/or closing remarks
  • Name on banners, announcement and thank you note – Ability for platinum sponsor to address the audience – Authorization to distribute takeaways on registration table – Occasionally, commemorative items distributed
  • Acknowledgement only
  • Not sure
  • None

Approximately what percentage of event cost do you attempt to cover through sponsorship income?

  • No set %, whatever we need to keep member fees to standard program levels
  • We don’t “cover” or pay for any event through sponsorship income because the plan is for all of it to go to scholarships. We do offer sponsorships for all of our events.
  • Varies – 50% roughly if not more
  • 100% of special events

Approximately how much revenue does your chapter receive annually from sponsorships?

  • It depends on how many sponsored events we have. There is no set amount.
  • $5,000-$10,000 per year – we are implementing some changes we hope to increase this dramatically
  • $9,000
  • So far we are at $9,000. Most of these companies are on our board.

What restrictions are placed on sponsors “marketing themselves” to your members?

  • None (2)
  • The platinum sponsor is given the opportunity to address the audience for a few minutes. Other sponsors can have giveaways at the registration table.
  • We don’t allow them to stand up and talk at meetings, but they are allowed to market one-on-one. I think this would change if some come off too pushy.

Any other information about sponsorships you would like to include.

  • Sponsorships are a great way to involve associate members while allowing the chapter to have more functions.