Finding Race Team Sponsorship

PontiacChief53 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 07:31 PM

Hey everyone.

I'm treasurer of the Formula SAE race team at the University of Southern California. This year our budget was cut and we find ourselves in desperate need of sponsors to cover the costs of designing and building a new car. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience at aquiring sponsors. What is good to put in a sponsorship packet, how do you to talk to potential sponsors, etc? I have a general idea of what to do, but I want to get it right since this year, it really matters to the survival of the team.

Also, if anyone knows of any places where someone could lend us a parking lot on a weekend to set up an autocross-type course for testing, that would be amazing. Renting a place to test currently counts for our overall expenses. Thanks for your help!

Andrew

P.S.: Donations are welcome! haha

**CanAmBob** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PontiacChief53

Hey everyone.

I'm treasurer of the Formula SAE race team at the University of Southern California. This year our budget was cut and we find ourselves in desperate need of sponsors to cover the costs of designing and building a new car. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience at aquiring sponsors. What is good to put in a sponsorship packet, how do you to talk to potential sponsors, etc? I have a general idea of what to do, but I want to get it right since this year, it really matters to the survival of the team.

Also, if anyone knows of any places where someone could lend us a parking lot on a weekend to set up an autocross-type course for testing, that would be amazing. Renting a place to test currently counts for our overall expenses. Thanks for your help!

Andrew

P.S.: Donations are welcome! haha

PontiacChief53 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 09:03 AM

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the insight. I think you hit the nail on the head as far as the main problem I've been having goes. Since we do only race a couple times a year, it's hard to say we have something to offer a sponsor in the way of exposure. We've been looking at alot of smaller companies, but perhaps bigger would be better. They could have the money for philanthropy projects and not need the exposure as much. (We just have to find corporations which don't already donate to the school, a hard task at USC. haha) A new website is a great idea though. We've been needing to replace the old one the team has anyway.

It's pretty cool that you knew Mr. Smith. He is prettty much the god of Formula SAE. Thanks for your help. This clears a few things up for me.

Andrew

Hit an Apex · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 01:00 PM

[quote=PontiacChief53;434681]Hi Bob,

Thanks for the insight. I think you hit the nail on the head as far as the main problem I've been having goes. Since we do only race a couple times a year, it's hard to say we have something to offer a sponsor in the way of exposure. We've been looking at alot of smaller companies, but perhaps bigger would be better. They could have the money for philanthropy projects and not need the exposure as much. (We just have to find corporations which don't already donate to the school, a hard task at USC. haha) A new website is a great idea though. We've been needing to replace the old one the team has anyway.

It's pretty cool that you knew Mr. Smith. He is prettty much the god of Formula SAE. Thanks for your help. This clears a few things up for me.

Andrew[/QUOTE

There is no real ROI on any lower forms of motorsport.

Champ Car and IRL can't even sell their product. You need to find a small company with someone in charge that likes cars and wants to be part of a team/hang out at the race track.

Or since you are FSAE, hit up the alums. PM, or get me on AIM if you have any questions.