RUN A PTA – Hotspot
Do’s and don’ts ✗
DON’T underestimate the personal touch when fi rst approaching a business – it might be easier to send an
email, but it’s also much easier for someone to ignore. Consider picking up the phone, or pop in and introduce yourself – either take a letter with you, outlining the details of your request, or follow up with the details in an email later, and they’ll be able to put a face to a name
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In detail: Event sponsorship
● Whether it’s for help with your summer fair, fi reworks display, colour run or another event entirely, approach businesses in plenty of time so you know how much you’ve got to work with
● Suggest different tiers of sponsorship, where the benefi ts a company receives will depend on how much they donate
● Ask if fi rms would like to sponsor a stall at your summer or Christmas fair – as well as their logo on the sign, they might even be persuaded to offer up a volunteer or two, which lets them engage with the community
● Invite a food or drink van along, and agree beforehand whether you’ll charge a fl at fee or a percentage share of their takings.
DO be clear about what you want, whether it’s a cash donation, a raffl e prize, volunteers to paint the playground fencing, or something else
DON’T ask, don’t get – it might feel awkward when you start approaching businesses, but it’s worth getting
over this. The worst they can say is no, and you’re no worse off than when you started
DO aim big – if a company asks what you’d like, shoot for the stars; they can always negotiate downwards
DON’T forget to think of it as a transaction – yes, you’re asking for something, but you’re also offering
something in a return; a company with its name all over your publicity is getting a huge amount of advertising
DO think outside the box – do you have a local football or rugby team, or other sports club, that
might be able to offer match tickets as a prize? Maybe they can make an appearance at your summer fair to increase attendance – or even man the ‘beat the goalie’ stall!
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DON’T be put off by rejections – you’re going to need a thick skin for this, as it could well take several ‘sorry, that’s not for us’ replies before you get a ‘yes, we’d love to help’
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DO ask any parents if they can help; if they’re employed, there might be benefi ts
through the company they work for. Or if they’re self-employed, their own business might be able to
help out ✗
DON’T forget about your admin – printing paperwork (event posters, fl yers and programmes) can get expensive. There might be a local company that would jump at the chance to have their name on these in exchange for printing them for you
DO thank businesses after the event, not just on your social media channels but also in a ‘thank you’ letter. Write or email them to say how much your event raised and what the money will be spent on. Aside from being good manners, it may also increase the chances of a profi table relationship – for both parties – in future.
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pta.co.uk SUMMER 2024 17
WORDS: ZOE HILL; IMAGES: LJUPCO, SULTANAEVA, VITALSSSS; ZAMRZNUTITONOVI/
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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