Marketing may be one of your heftiest monthly investments, and for good reason—it makes your target audience aware of your brand identity and offerings in a competitive marketplace.

And although you may funnel your efforts into typical avenues like advertisements and social media, there’s an additional promotional opportunity that could be just as powerful for boosting your organization’s corporate image: sponsorships. Explore some of the key benefits of sponsoring an individual, group, or charity, and discover how you can leverage these altruistic works for maximum impact.

Supporting a cause

Similar to making a private charitable donation, a sponsorship is a way for a business to fuel philanthropic efforts. However, the latter is generally more involved: rather than simply giving money, you provide an added layer of backing for a good cause. This could be as simple as pledging money to support a participant in a cancer research fundraising race or even financing the event itself. Or if you want to give more continuous support, you could fund an ongoing project such as a community garden or school sports program, supplying the resources it requires to stay operational.

But sponsorships do not always involve strictly giving financial contributions. Perhaps you could donate items of value like refreshments or venue space for a specific philanthropic event or provide services like a free consultation as a prize in a fundraising auction. In other words, there are myriad methods for your business to be charitable.

Sponsoring an organization is undoubtedly a virtuous act in itself, but it also forms a mutually beneficial partnership—you contribute to its cause while the recipient offers you an avenue for promoting your brand as a show of appreciation. This may include them displaying your company’s name and logo on a banner or T-shirt or a gala host publicly giving gratitude for your gracious support. In this way, sponsorship opportunities offer you excellent marketing outlets, which, when leveraged successfully, can do wonders for attracting your target audience.

Maximizing the potential

Donating funds, items, or complimentary services will inherently trigger the halo effect, in which associating your business with something good causes people to view all aspects of it positively. But in order to truly capitalize on this upside, you’ll want to be deliberate about how you utilize your sponsorship efforts.

Be strategic with your selections
To maximize your impression on your target audience or market to more of them, choose charities that align with your consumers’ values and interests. You could even identify charitable causes or fundraising events that directly correlate with your business’s products or services. For instance, a roofing company might sponsor a charity that rebuilds homes for catastrophic storm victims, while a software company that sells products to academic institutions could back school-supply drives, affirming its commitment to supporting educational opportunities. Partnering with compatible causes can cement your brand identity, illustrate what exactly you sell, and demonstrate your value proposition to your target audience.

Spread the word
To reap the most benefits from your charitable donations, you’ll need to promote your efforts. Feature the sponsorship on your social pages before, during, and after any significant events; featuring language along the lines of “We can’t wait to see you!” or “We hope to see you next time!” will both promote a good cause and spur existing customers’ engagement with your brand. In these posts, also make sure to enlighten the public about the organization’s work and detail the extent of your partnership with them (what you are donating, how you aim to champion their causes, etc.). While being charitable certainly helps your target consumer view your company as more likable and trustworthy, shining the spotlight on your altruism ensures that as many people as possible hear about it.

Lend a presence
Naturally, having your branding featured on your recipient’s event or general marketing materials will expand your outreach. But aim to take it one step further by attending events you sponsor to show your support and network with guests. Having a physical presence will indicate that your sponsorship isn’t just for show, helping develop greater trust in your brand. Plus, by engaging with people as they walk by your table, you can tell your company’s story and answer any questions—potentially turning them into leads, or even customers, on the spot.

Attract talent
It takes great employees to accomplish your organization’s mission, and, to that end, partnering alongside charitable institutions could become one of your best recruitment strategies. In fact, PEG Staffing & Recruiting shares that selective and highly qualified job hunters often specifically seek out employers who have a proven history of engaging in corporate social-responsibility initiatives. As you build your employer profile on job-hunting platforms and create a careers page on your website, include verbiage that highlights your community outreach and other charitable initiatives. Likewise, indicate that you’re looking for people who care about making a difference to come aboard. When you sponsor philanthropic causes, you not only gain the opportunity to share your brand with prospective employees but also persuade them that yours is a rewarding business to join.

Balancing your bottom line

While you should consider opportunities to make a difference, there is, of course, such thing as overstretching your budget. If you’re seeking guidance about how much you should reasonably contribute in total dollars and goods, consider reaching out to a financial professional. They can review your marketing funds and available cash to help you initiate a substantial yet reasonable sponsorship.

Regardless of how much you can give, promoting your business in a philanthropic light will do wonders for both the organization you’re supporting and your bottom line. You won’t just gain a loyal customer base that is proud to work with you—ultimately, you may also feel prouder of the business you lead.

TAKE ACTION:
Research philanthropic organizations in your area that align with your brand identity, and contact them for potential sponsorship opportunities.