Finding the sponsorship contact in charge of decisions for a particular brand can sometimes be a challenge.
That said, if you as the sponsor-seeker are willing to follow our 7-step collaboration and sponsorship model and invest a little time into sponsorship contact research, you will not only find the right person, you will likely impress them once you connect with them.
Sponsorship decision-makers notice when you have spent some time learning about them before the call (checking out their website, social media, press releases, and media).
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Once you reach out to your sponsorship contact, they will be able to tell if you’ve put effort into your research from...
- What you say
- The questions you ask
- The words you used
- Your confidence/comfort on the call (because the research increases confidence)
Sponsorship Contact Tools: Using LinkedIn to Connect with Sponsorship Decision-Makers
When you are not able to find a sponsorship decision-maker on the company website, LinkedIn will be your best tool to find the contact person. LinkedIn details can also help you learn about the brand before your call with the decision-maker.
Some of the titles to search for in LinkedIn (for the company you are trying to find the sponsorship contact for) include:
- Sponsorship
- Community Investment
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Public Relations
- Community Outreach
- Marketing
- Brand Development
Remember, there may be times when you share mutual connections with the sponsorship contact you want to build a relationship with.
You can always reach out to your 1st degree connections (by email) who are also 1st degree connections to the sponsor contacts you want to be introduced/connected to. Ask for their help by making an introduction to the person you want to be connected with.
These are a few tips to get you started.
Looking for more information on what to say when you land that call with a sponsor?
Check out our blog on this very topic: 7 Great Questions to Ask a Sponsor
