Digital sponsorships are the way forward for your golf fundraiser. Here’s why.
With COVID-19 forcing many fundraisers to cancel event after event, it seems a lot is riding on the success of this year’s golf fundraiser. Sponsor support is more important than ever. What’s more, the challenges of social distancing are eliminating some of the key sponsorships that have been historically lucrative for golf events as event organizers plan tournaments that may need to be adapted for extended play, a limited field size, or to eliminate gatherings and receptions before and after. This presents a bit of a conundrum. The answer? Digital sponsorships. They’re adaptable, professional, low-risk, flexible, high-value, and easier than you might think. Here’s how to leverage them during this peculiar time and beyond.
Focus on Safety & Professionalism
Now’s the time to eliminate anything gimmicky and focus on hosting a safe, well-organized, and professional outing. With the challenges facing the nonprofit sector, many understand that budgets are tight. Use this as an opportunity to show supporters that you’re committed to engaging with them in meaningful ways and working through tough times to move your mission forward. They’ll remember how your organization buckled down to keep traditions going and channel support, and rest assured knowing their gifts are in the right hands with your organization’s priorities.
To move the golf event forward safely and successfully, consider format changes and extended play options that keep folks distanced. A professional, well-organized outing should include easy, secure, online registration and clear communication every step of the way. It should also eliminate the waiting and logistical confusion that can be frustrating for participants the day of the event. For safety, it’s also important to remove as many physical touchpoints as possible, including registration paperwork, pay at course options, check-in lines, and the congestion of a shotgun start. Be sure to use an event registration website provider that can accommodate the unique needs of a golf outing (custom sponsorship packages, secure and simple player and sponsor registration, et cetera), and take advantage of free options.
Beyond logistics, look for other ways to keep professionalism foremost through upgrades like custom-branded pin flags and live leaderboards. These high-end, pro-Tour elements are also exceptional sponsorship opportunities that require marginal overhead costs compared to their list prices and minimal time and resources to pull off.
If you already have an event website, streamline everything by linking in custom sponsorship packages and secure online registration.
The Value of Digital Exposure
It goes without saying that safety and professionalism are also crucial considerations for sponsors. Let them know what you’re doing to overcome challenges during this time and to ensure a great experience for participants. When you upgrade to contact-free online registration and touch-free live scoring, be sure to use a platform that makes it easy to leverage the digital sponsorship opportunities that come with those additions. In addition to this kind of innovative and high-end exposure, sponsors have increasingly shown a high propensity to support the technology that keeps nonprofits operating smoothly and efficiently. The technology behind fundraising events like the golf outing is no exception—especially at this crucial time when sponsors are eager to help the sector keep the tradition of these events alive during a year when it seems most other events will need to be canceled.
Digital exposure also allows for tons of flexibility. Digital exposure comes with no overhead costs and can be easily adapted if an event is rescheduled or transitioned to include virtual options like an extended play scenario. Logistically, digital exposure also makes things easier. While signage and other in-person exposure might not be allowed for a week- or month-long outing, digital exposure can easily remain in place for extended-duration events.
Take advantage of live leaderboards as a way to engage supporters during and after your golf event. Use the Donate Now function to garner additional donations.
Digital Sponsorship Options
So how, exactly, can you offer digital sponsorship options at your golf fundraiser? Here are some options to consider and how to leverage them.
Event registration website exposure. You could create an event website and post sponsor logos there (and maybe you already have). That’s a great place to start, but to offer a real value to sponsors and save time and resources internally, you’ll need something more extensive and, preferably, designed for the nuances of a golf tournament. Be sure you’re using your website to streamline the registration process. Doing so will make it the primary avenue for marketing your event and allow you to scrap printed materials, which are an additional expense, must be processed manually, and can’t be updated if anything changes. Your registration website, on the other hand, is easy to share via email, on social media, and through direct communications. The more you promote your site and use it to spread the word and communicate with potential players and sponsors, the more value you bring to the sponsors displayed on that website.
Digital hole sponsorships. Live scoring is a great way to add a high-value virtual element (and sponsorship opportunity!) to your event and keep supporters and online spectators engaged. When you offer contact-free live scoring, be sure to use a mobile platform that also gives you the ability to sell digital hole sponsorships every time a player enters their score.
Live leaderboard sponsorships. Share the live leaderboards for your event online through your organization’s newsletters, email blasts, and social channels during and after the event. Be sure to use a platform that makes it easy for online spectators and supporters to donate instantly and securely to your organization directly from the leaderboards. From a sponsorship standpoint, this is ideal exposure that should be sold at a premium. Once the event concludes, post scores and use them as a way to get attendees and sponsors onboard for next year’s event right away. Final leaderboards are also an opportunity to make an ask of donors as you thank them for participating; try making an ask that aligns with their final score ($84 dollars for a score of 84, for example).
Mobile engagement. Use the mobile channel to provide sponsors with opportunities to reach players at pertinent times. Look for a golf event management platform that lets you offer sponsors the opportunity to send timely and customizable messages and sponsored giveaways through the live scoring app.
Hit the Easy Button
GolfStatus’org’s full-service golf event management platform can do all of the above and more, making it easy for organizations large and small to save a ton of time and resources in planning a safe, socially distant golf event with flexibility and premium digital exposure for sponsors. This technology is available to nonprofit organizations at no cost through our Golf for Good program.
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