Create a CSR Sponsorship for Your Next Conference

Are you missing a revenue opportunity for your conference? Many conferences are adding a corporate social responsibility activity package as part of their key sponsorship offerings. Not only is this an impactful way of engaging attendees, but it’s also a great way to create goodwill for sponsors and the conference organizers.

Creating a CSR proposal for an event can be tricky; however, you need to get this on your conference agenda. 

To be successful, follow these guidelines: 
 
Plan the Event with Your Sponsor in Mind: Brands align with specific causes from the environment to the military. Before approaching your potential sponsor, determine the brand’s interest areas and show the sponsorship lead how your conference can complete a program that benefits that cause or, if desired, a specific nonprofit.
 
Create the Right Sponsorship Opportunity: Whether you are creating a separate social impact sponsorship program or baking this into an existing (gold or platinum) sponsorship, you’ll want to know all the details of the sponsorship elements. This can include pre-conference media, activity sign-up media, onsite signage, speaking opportunities, live activity media, and post-event media.
 
Know Your Sponsor’s Audience: Sponsors will need a clear understanding of your audience — and whether that target aligns with who they want to reach — before they choose to invest in the conference. During your initial conversation with the potential sponsor, you will most likely need to speak to this topic. Be prepared.

Determine What’s Coming Up for the Sponsor: Sponsors have calendars with product releases just like you. Are they launching new products or initiatives? Think about how you can best help them spread the news.

Look for Brands That Want to Boost Their Image: Some potential sponsors may already be well-known in the sustainability space. Others may have a good reputation but want to boost their image a bit. These would be fantastic organizations to approach about sponsoring a CSR program.
 
Count Impressions: There’s value in the number of times the target demographic sees the brand logo. In addition to adding logos to banners or programs, consider unique ways to tie branding into each aspect of the CSR program. 
 
Highlight Key Metrics: How are you measuring the impact of the CSR program? Potential sponsors will want to know these metrics to make sure they align with their own CSR goals. Additionally, they will want to know what type of impact they’re having on the community so they can brag about the impact of their sponsorship! 
 
Host a Great CSR Program: It’s common knowledge that it’s easier to get repeat business from one happy client than it is to convert a new lead. By designing and facilitating a fantastic CSR program that meets your stakeholders’ needs, you can benefit from having a sponsor who is happy to work with you.