Inspired by insights from Ricardo Fort
Securing a sponsorship deal is as much about alignment as it is about ambition. The best proposals don’t simply “ask” for money — they demonstrate a deep understanding of the sponsor’s world, reflect the brand’s language, and visually connect with its identity.
According to sponsorship expert Ricardo Fort, the most effective sponsorship proposals share three critical elements:
1. Understanding the Sponsor’s Business Challenges
Before you draft a single slide, you need to know what’s keeping the brand’s executives awake at night. Publicly traded companies offer a goldmine of insight through their Form 10-K reports, specifically the “Risk Factors” section.
Here, you’ll find references to competitive threats, market pressures, geographic vulnerabilities, and consumer trends. For private companies, interviews with the CEO, CMO, or other senior leaders — whether in the press or at industry events — are equally revealing.
This isn’t just background research. It’s the foundation for crafting a proposal that solves their problems rather than simply promoting your property.
2. Speaking the Sponsor’s Language
Every organisation has its own lexicon — and using it correctly signals that you’ve done your homework. Coca-Cola measures sales in “unit cases,” Visa calls its bank partners “issuers,” and each major company has similar internal terminology.
The fastest way to learn this? Listen to quarterly earnings calls, watch keynote speeches, or track interviews at industry conferences like Cannes Lions. Mirroring their vocabulary increases the chances your pitch resonates with decision-makers.
3. Using the Right Visual Cues
A sponsorship proposal is more than words — it’s a brand touchpoint in itself. Using the correct logo, colour palette, tagline, and iconography communicates respect and professionalism. One wrong colour or outdated asset, and your credibility takes a hit.
These visual elements are easy to find online, but precision matters. The goal isn’t just to impress; it’s to ensure there are no distractions from the strength of your ideas.
365247 Consultancy Insight: Turning Best Practices into Business Wins
At 365247 Consultancy, we take these three principles and build them into a repeatable, scalable sponsorship acquisition process for our clients.
Our approach includes:
- Challenge Mapping: Analysing your target sponsor’s strategic goals, market position, and competitive pressures.
- Language Calibration: Adapting pitch language and framing to align with internal decision-maker expectations.
- Brand Precision: Ensuring every visual element in your proposal meets the sponsor’s exact brand standards.
The result? Proposals that don’t just “look good” but feel like they already belong inside the sponsor’s boardroom.
If your sponsorship outreach isn’t getting the traction it should, it’s not about luck — it’s about alignment.
Contact 365247 Consultancy today, and let’s design sponsorship proposals that speak your sponsor’s language, address their challenges, and visually connect with their brand from page one.
Partner With Us
Want to feature your brand, business, or service on 365247 — Whether you’re looking to sponsor, collaborate, or build presence within our ecosystem, we’d love to explore it with you.
Submit your Interest Here
IMAGE: 2022 UEFA
