When you have a small business, it can be hard to meet your funding goals. That’s why so many businesses turn to partnership programs as their first option for raising capital. These programs are designed with small businesses in mind—they make it easier for smaller companies to connect with like-minded individuals and companies who want to support them financially.
When you’re looking at partnership programs, there are two main differences between fundraising and sponsorship that you need to be aware of: the type of individuals they target and the amount of capital they provide.
What’s the difference between fundraising and sponsorship?
One of the differences between fundraising and sponsorship is the target market. Fundraising typically targets individuals who want to support your organization in a more personal way, like family members or friends. Sponsorship, on the other hand, targets companies that want to support your small business. This means that you’ll likely have less personal input into your partnership program’s marketing plan than you would with a fundraising campaign. Another difference is the amount of capital provided by a sponsor. Sponsors generally provide funds for specific projects within a year—and these funds are always given at market value. You might also be able to get sponsorships from individuals or organizations who want to support your mission in general, but they’re not given funds explicitly for specific projects as sponsors are.
When you’re deciding between sponsorship and fundraising, think about what type of people you want reaching out to you first and what type of capital they’ll provide to help support your organization now and long term.
Who can use a partnership program?
Partnership programs are designed specifically to connect with individuals or companies who want to support your business. They’re typically targeted at smaller companies, so they can offer them the capital and support they need to grow their business.
If you have a larger company, you might consider something like a crowdfunding campaign or even a corporate sponsorship. For example, if your company needed some extra funding for the upcoming year, you could use a partnership program to help raise it.
Which capital is provided by partnerships?
One of the most notable differences between partnership programs and fundraising is that partnerships generally provide capital to the business while fundraisers primarily provide a monetary donation. Another difference is the types of individuals they target. If a company is looking for people who have more business experience, they would likely turn to partnering with a corporate sponsor. On the other hand, if they are looking to partner with individuals who have a personal interest in their product or service, then they would be more likely to choose a fundraising opportunity.
Also, partnerships generally provide larger levels of capital than fundraisers do. This is because set percentages in fundraising agreements typically only range from 10 percent-30 percent, whereas partnerships usually offer upwards of 70 percent-100 percent of funding.
How to find a partnership program for your small business
To find the right program for your small business, you need to identify what type of individuals and companies you want to work with.
Two main types are available: individual investors and corporations. These two groups of people and companies offer different levels of capital and support.
Individual investors are typically looking for a high-risk opportunity, since they’re investing their own money into the partnership program. Corporations tend to be more interested in working with businesses that can provide a return on investment (ROI), usually through increased sales or profits. In either case, it’s important that your partnership program has features designed specifically around their needs and interests.
Registered Partner Program
A registered partner program will give you access to a private, online community of business owners who want to support your company. This is a great place to find partners interested in supporting your cause.
These types of programs are also designed with partnerships in mind, and they often have rewards or incentives for partnering businesses. They often offer discounts on products or services as well as additional revenue opportunities, like advertising space or exclusive offers.
A registered partner program will usually provide financial support that can potentially range anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000 per year depending on the size of your business and how much capital you decide to raise.
Be part of the Canadian Crowdfunding Network
The Canadian Crowdfunding Network (CCFN) is an online platform that targets entrepreneurs and small business owners in Canada. They provide access to fundraising, partnerships, loans, insurance coverage, and other funding opportunities.
There are many benefits of being part of the CCFN. For example, they offer a range of crowd-funding options for businesses depending on their needs and goals as well as the amount of capital they want to raise.
Conclusion
Some people get confused about the difference between fundraising and sponsorship. The simple answer is that a sponsorship is a business relationship where one company or organization in return for money, goods or services pays for the rights to have its name, logo and/or advertising on the marketing materials of another company or organization. A fundraising campaign is where a company or organization asks people to contribute money to a cause, or they create a donation-based campaign to support their nonprofit or charity.
FAQ’s
What are the benefits of partnering with a business?
A partnership program is designed specifically for small businesses and the individuals who run them. Because of this, they usually have a very high target demographic. Many partnership programs have a cap on their investments, which can range from $50,000 to $500,000.
A sponsorship program, on the other hand, is open to the public—there are no restrictions on who can apply. This makes it much easier to find qualified individuals or companies who want to support your business financially. And because sponsorship programs have a lower cap on their investments, there’s more of a chance for you to earn back that investment.
What are the types of individuals that businesses partner with?
There are several types of individuals that businesses partner with. Some of the most common types of partners include:
· Investors: Investors are individuals or entities who make money-generating commitments to your business. These can include loans, equity investments, and strategic partnerships.
· Business Advisors: Business advisors are individuals or entities who provide business advice and guidance to your business. They can help you develop your sales team or refine your marketing strategy.
· Brand Ambassadors: Brand Ambassadors are individuals who represent a business’s brand and promote it to their own networks and followers. They may also help market your products or services to their target audience.
· Salesforce Volunteers: Salesforce Volunteers are individuals who contribute their time to help businesses with their sales and marketing efforts. They may help train new salespeople, write marketing materials, or run events.
What are the different types of capital businesses provide?
There are five main types of capital businesses provide:
1. Business loans
2. Business lending
3. Business credit cards
4. Business factoring and outsourcing
5. Freelance work and royalty programs
1. Business loans are one of the most common forms of capital that small businesses need. These loans allow you to take out a loan to fund your business’s operations. You’ll need to pay interest on the loan each year, but it will be much lower than what you would pay for a personal credit card.
2. Business lending is a type of capital that offers small businesses financial assistance with their existing assets, like equipment or real estate. This type of lending is more flexible than traditional lines of credit, allowing you to choose which items you want to use the money for—you don’t have to use it all at once.
3. Business credit cards are great for businesses who want to promote their brand and raise awareness about their products or services in a cost-effective way. They can also help you to lower your merchant processing fees by taking advantage of discounted rates on card processing services like Square or Intuit GoPayment.
4. Factoring and outsourcing are two different types of capital that help small businesses acquire additional resources by providing them with credit lines or accounts receivable financing (ARF). This type of financing is typically used by B2B companies, which makes them ideal for businesses that sell products or services to other businesses or individuals (like salesforce.com).
5. Freelance work and royalty programs are two other types of capital that can help small businesses grow their business and increase their revenue stream. They provide small businesses with the freedom to work with other companies on a project basis without having to worry about payroll and other internal expenses (like taxes).
