Sponsorship Retaining Letters

[Jessica Boucher]

Originally Posted by Jack Jones

Let me take a shot at where you're going to say. Would it involve keeping your sponsor informed during the competition season? Maybe inviting them to come have a look-see? Would it warn against taking them for granted except for when that 9, Dec. payment is looming?

Not necessarily. It's more of a Total Corporate Management system - showing equal interest in their company so that they will show interest in you and stick around. Not just inviting them and keeping them informed during competition season, but doing things like:

• Taking the extra step to keep yourself informed on the company so that you not only have something to talk about with the company contact other than the robot, but it shows that you are honestly interested in their success, since it directly relates to your success.
• Keeping the sponsor informed and invited not only during the season, but during the offseason. Encourage coming up with solutions for the sponsor to become more involved, such as having the students take a tour of the facility. Treat your sponsor more like a partner instead of a checkbook.

I go into this in more detail in the presentation that I gave at the Southern NE Conference on Saturday. Unfortunately, I am not at my computer to post a more detailed version of my slides because I am taking care of a friend who just went through surgery.

What I'm saying is, I feel that a letter is one of the steps, but not always enough to seal the deal. At this point, it is understandable that a letter may be the only thing that can be done with said time constraints. Best of luck, Beth!