PRE-FORUM WORKSHOP SERIES
We offer a unique opportunity to attend half-day workshops that provide a “deep-dive” into focused topics.
These workshops are specifically designed for the municipal and public sector corporate sponsorship audience, providing valuable insights and practical tools. Each workshop is carefully crafted by an expert in the field, delivering actionable content, engaging discussions, and real-life case studies.
These intensive three-hour workshops delve deep into the topic, and will provide valuable tools and knowledge to enhance your sponsorship strategies.
Workshop - Option 1
Sponsorship 101
Instructor: Christi Cruz
This hands-on workshop will be insightful for both those on the selling side of the sponsorship game as properties and rights holders as well as those on the buying side… the sponsors. This session will highlight the art, and science, of the ever evolving sponsorship game - it really is more than counting eyeballs and numbers!
● Provide an overview of the changing landscape of sponsorship, sponsorship marketing, social purpose, CSR and corporate philanthropy.
●. Share techniques to move your proposals from transactional to relational creating long term partnerships and higher success rates.
●. Review of the key elements of sponsorship, including the importance of brand and reputation, community engagement and ROI.
●. Clarify the role of the property and that of the sponsor.
●. Provide examples of leading sponsorship approaches.
This half-day bootcamp is a great start to the National Sponsorship Forum presented by Western Sponsorship Congress® or a fantastic standalone professional development opportunity for those new to sponsorship (less than 2 years). It is also a great refresher for more seasoned industry professionals in our ever-changing and evolving industry. Sponsorship expert Christi Cruz, formerly of TELUS, will lead this interactive session.
Do you have a newish team or staff that has transitioned into a sponsorship role? Or part-time staff that have sponsorship as one of their many duties? This bootcamp will deliver practical and easy to implement ideas that will create terrific ROI and energize your team. A more experienced delegate will also benefit by refreshing their knowledge and updating their toolkit. A newer industry professional will learn terminology, how to focus their efforts and how to best utilize sponsorship tools and develop their skills.
Workshop - Option 2
Sponsorship Next Level – An In-depth Session on Sponsorship Beyond the Basics
Instructor: Brent Barootes
Ready to elevate your sponsorship impact? This in-depth session, tailored for mid-to-senior level professionals (5+ years experience) and industry veterans (10+ years), goes beyond introductory concepts to explore the critical elements of next-level sponsorship success.
Brent Barootes, President & CEO of the Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists®, will guide you through key areas such as effective leadership in sponsorship teams, cutting-edge activation strategies, optimizing people and client relationships, mastering asset valuation, and advanced negotiation techniques. Learn how these principles apply across diverse sectors, including arts, charities, post-secondary, sport, non-profits, municipalities, and from the brand / sponsor perspective.
Workshop - Option 3
Data for Sponsorships 101: Use the Right Numbers to Win (and Keep) Your Sponsors
Instructor: Sarah Hillifer
This session is built for fundraisers who don’t consider themselves “data people” but still want to build better sponsorships. Don’t speak fluent spreadsheet? This is definitely the session for you.
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use the numbers you already have (and a few you didn’t know you did) to pitch more confidently, report more clearly, and build long-term partnerships. We’ll break down ROI and ROO in plain language, show you how to align your data with potential sponsors, set expectations early, and give you tools to back up your ask.
What You’ll Walk Away With
●. A clear framework for using data in sponsorship pitches
● Tools to set and deliver on ROI (Return on Investment) and ROO (Return on Objectives)
● A pre-event Success Snapshot to align with sponsors from the moment you’ve signed the contract
● A Sponsorship Report Structure that makes reporting and renewals easier
● Plug-and-play templates for every step of the sponsorship journey