There are so many ways for companies and organizations to get involved with and support your tournament. It can be important to keep an open mind for what can be offered, because sometimes a simple ask can get you more than you were expecting or even the thing you didn’t know you were missing.
What is In-Kind Sponsorship?
In-Kind sponsorship is when, rather than giving money to your cause, a company donates products, services, or expertise instead. Not every company is able to make financial contributions, whether it be because they have already maxed out their corporate social responsibility budget or are a small business that cannot commit to financial support. That doesn’t mean they can’t still play a role in making your tournament a success.
Why In-Kind Sponsorship Can Benefit Your Tournament
It may be easy to focus on the amount of money others are willing to donate to your tournament, like paying for sponsorship packages, but in-kind sponsorship can be essential to supporting other aspects of your tournament.
If you are planning to have prizes for any on-course contests, host an auction, or run a raffle, you need a variety of items and experiences to make those moments exciting. A donated foursome at a nearby course, a spa day, or a signed jersey can generate more buzz than a generic ask for donations on event day. In-kind sponsorship also helps stretch your budget further. Every donated item, service, or piece of equipment is one less thing you have to pay for out of pocket, which means more of your raised funds go straight to your cause.
Who Can You Ask About In-Kind Sponsorship?
In-kind giving can truly come from anywhere, so don’t be afraid to connect with other people and businesses in your community. Some places to start:
- Restaurants and breweries for catering, gift cards, or post-round refreshments
- Golf retailers and pro shops for equipment, apparel, or gift cards
- Local hotels for overnight stays to bundle into auction packages
- Golf courses for round vouchers or tee time donations
- Printers and sign shops for banners, scorecards, or signage
- Spas and salons for gift certificates that round out a prize package
- Local artists or craftspeople for unique, one-of-a-kind auction items
The key is to ask. Most businesses want to support their community, they just need to be given the opportunity.
Ways Event Caddy Supports the Use of In-Kind Sponsorship
A golf tournament software wouldn’t be complete without tools to help you manage all of your donations. Here are the Event Caddy tools that make in-kind sponsorship easy to incorporate into your tournament planning efforts.
- Online Auction – Showcase donated items and experiences in a slick, easy-to-bid online format that keeps the excitement going before and during your event. Run it all through Event Caddy’s built-in Online Auction feature.
- Online Store – Sell special merchandise, raffle tickets, or sponsor-donated products without the hassle of manual tracking. Event Caddy’s Online Store is versatile and creates an opportunity for you to build excitement around the goods given in-kind to your event.
- Sponsor Highlights – Give every in-kind sponsor visibility with a dedicated spot to showcase their logo and contribution, so they feel the love even without writing a check.
- Registration – Bundle in-kind perks (like a free round or gift card) directly into registration packages to sweeten the deal for golfers and boost registration.
Sign up for Event Caddy to start accessing all the tools you need to make in-kind sponsorship easier.
