fundraising and sponsorship opportunities mike wilhelm, p.e., m.asce truckee meadows branch...

Fundraising and SponsorshipOpportunities

Mike Wilhelm, P.E., M.ASCETruckee Meadows Branch Past-President

Region 8 Governor-Elect

Presidents and Governors ForumReston, Va.

September 24, 2012

Introduction

Background

Marketing Approaches

Additional Opportunities

Sponsorship Timeline

Develop Your Sponsorship Program

Best Practices Summary

Questions & Answers

Overview

Introduction

Nevada Section founded in 1963

Large geographic area (110,560± sq mi; 7th largest state)

Relatively isolated population centers (2/3 of population in Las Vegas Area)

3 Branches Truckee Meadows (Reno)

450 members Capital (Carson City)

100 members Southern Nevada (Las Vegas)

660 members

Truckee Meadows Branch Sponsorship Program Corporate Sponsor

Benefits Visibility in monthly newsletter and on website

Business card sized logo provided by firm Free “Help Wanted” ads

Rate $100/yr

Background

Truckee Meadows Branch Sponsorship Program Silver Sponsor

Benefits Corporate Sponsor plus…

Firm profile in a monthly newsletter Marketing loop at a monthly luncheon meeting Appreciation Plaque

Rate $300/yr

Only 10 available Creates sense of urgency

Background

Background

Background

Passive Marketing Ran Annual Sponsorship Forms in monthly newsletter

Waited for responses Worked well when times were good Sold out every year

Great Recession in Nevada Unemployment peaked at nearly 15% (December 2010)

1 in 6 private sector jobs lost Nearly 2 of every 3 in the Construction Sector

Detrimental effect on our profession and Section Membership Passive Approach was no longer effective

Only sold 5 Silver Sponsorships in 2009

Marketing Approaches

Active Marketing is Personal “Engineering is about relationships.” Remember that people give to people

Build Target List of Potential Annual Sponsors Northern Nevada Business Weekly publishes list of area Engineering Firms Maintain information for Contact Individual at each firm

Firm, Principal or Contact Name, Address, Phone No., E-mail

Reach Out to Sponsors Divide list among Branch Officers

Active Marketing

Develop Relationships Make personal phone calls

Say thank you for last year’s support Make “The Ask”

Sponsorship Request Letter from Branch President Include Sponsorship Form with letter

“Thank You” Personal ASCE notecards in a timely manner

Recognize Sponsors at Events

More work, but definitely worth it in the end Immediate success All 10 Silver Sponsorships were sold in 2010

Active Marketing

Special Event(s) Annual Awards and Student Recognition Banquet

Combined two events to create a Gala Event Local “Celebrity” for Keynote Speaker New fundraising opportunity

Table Sponsorships Benefits

• Table of 8• 6 from firm (staff + clients)• 2 students

Rate• $400

Raffle Prize Donations

Additional Opportunities

Additional Opportunities

Moving Forward Add additional level(s) “Silver Sponsor since…” Expand Prospect List Ideas?

Additional Opportunities

September and October Luncheons General announcement “Annual Sponsorship Season is Coming”

Last week of October Sponsorship Form distributed in November newsletter

November Phone calls Personal Sponsorship Invitation Letters with Sponsorship Forms included

December Sponsorships due

Timeline

January Personal Thank You Notes “Save the Date” for Annual Awards and Student Recognition Banquet

February Banquet Sponsorship Invitations distributed

March Banquet Sponsorships Due

April Banquet

Timeline

Year-round Sponsor Recognition at monthly luncheon

Silver Sponsor Appreciation Plaque General Thank You to all Sponsors in opening remarks Continue to make the case

ASCE is a volunteer organization Your financial support enables the Branch to…

Fund University of Nevada student scholarships Support the Concrete Canoe Team Support the College of Engineering Fall BBQ and Spring Banquet Advocate for infrastructure Put on K-12 Outreach events Put on our monthly lunches and Annual Banquet Etc.

Timeline

Develop Your Sponsorship Program What/Why? Who? How? When?

Sponsorship Program Outline

Sponsorship Committee

Sponsorship Levels

Prospect List

Assign Tasks

Promote Value

Thank Yous

Follow-up

Sponsorship Program Outline

Who is responsible?

What worked well?

What did not?

Off the wall

Administration

Follow-up

Always

Never

Outcome

Best Practices Summary

“Engineering is about Relationships.”

Remember…

Contact Information

Mike Wilhelm, P.E., M.ASCE

Past-President, Truckee Meadows Branch (Reno, Nev.)

Region 8 Governor-Elect

www.ascetruckeemeadows.org

[P] 775-750-7866

[E] mike@christynv.com

Questions and Answers