You’ve done the prep work and now …
The time has come: you have picked up the phone. You have smelled emails. You have made connections. You have written and submitted sponsorship proposals.
A potential sponsor has approached you to request a meeting where you will present your proposal and idea for sponsorship.
You do a little excited dance, a punch in the silence of your victory.
Yes. You have a chance.
After all, this is your dream, so even a chance to fulfill that dream feels like a dive into the island of guilty pleasure.
So here you are, ready to rock, but you miss your trusty companion: confidence.
You know now is the time to shine, but you don’t know where to start.
And that’s where I support you, here are some smart tips on how to apply for a sponsorship with confidence:
1. A good introduction is key.
If you’re not sure how to start your presentation and feel like a rock star, just start with yourself! Share your mission, your passion for what you do, and the work you’ve done so far.
Don’t be another ‘innovative idea’ with no face and no soul behind. It is not the idea that sponsors you, it is the trust. It is the relationship. Remember, relationships make money!
2. Don’t put yourself down.
Sometimes it seems like you ask too much, the act of asking becomes awkward. You are about to ask them to give you money and all you can repay right now is a pinky promise on paper with a signature underneath.
Right? Wrong. Remember that you have the will to improve the world and your money can be BUILT to make that vision of changing the world a reality. You have a plan and determination.
The only thing you lack are certain resources that your potential sponsor has in abundance. Money comes and goes, any good businessman knows that. The important thing is to use it for the right cause and to help the right people. Be those people.
3. Be clear from the start.
‘Confidence’. The first thing that comes to mind is Annalize Keating, a terrific defense attorney, the main character in ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder.”
That woman oozes confidence, whether in a classroom full of anxious students or in court, standing up for her client at all costs. What makes it like this? She is direct! Not a single extra word, no excuses. Annalize is never afraid to ask when she needs the answer and makes it so quick and easy that you can’t resist.
Surprisingly, once you realize that being direct is simpler than creating a vague but comfortable veil of courtesy, it becomes quite easy: “I need N dollars for this project, and it’s a great return on investment for you for the reasons 1, 2 and 3. “Boom! You are so confident that I am already proud.
4. Be respectful and considerate.
Remember that the sponsor is not a tower you must conquer or an enemy you must defeat; he’s a potentially cool guy or girl to work with.
5. Prepare for the worst.
While it may seem extreme, you can use it to calm yourself down before the meeting. What’s the worst that can happen? You get a “no”. But is it that bad? Sometimes rejection is a great opportunity to grow, I would know it!
Remember: if you are convinced that your idea is a good one and you can make it come true, you have the power to share your dream with others in a way that feels good and confident.
The result does not matter.
What if it doesn’t work the first time? No problem!
Practice makes perfect and this opportunity will set you up to “succeed” the next.