If you’re in sports, you know that preparation is the key to an excellent performance. When it comes to winning the right funding, the approach is the same. It’s all about doing the work, building your skills, and getting a good game plan. And Funding HQ is on your side! Here’s what you can be doing in your off-season to make sure your team is ready to win on the funding front when the new season comes around.
Focus on reconnecting
Get in touch with your existing supporters and funders whenever you get a breather from competition. Covid-19 means this is more important than ever because so much has changed.
You might find the situation has changed for the better. Companies you’ve worked with in the past may now want their support of the local team to be more visible – sponsoring you could be an effective way for them to show they back their local community. Think about how you can help and start the conversation now.
Corporate sponsors may not be able to offer you the same support as they have in the past. Either way, they’ll still appreciate you reaching out and checking in. Care makes an impression. You want to be remembered for the right thing when the pace picks up again.
Plan to diversify away from gaming trusts
You should expect a reduction in any funding you’ve traditionally received from gaming trusts. Gaming trust funding has been slowly decreasing over the last few years and the lockdown has meant an even sharper decline as gaming income has been interrupted. Even if you’ve enjoyed a good relationship with specific gaming trusts in the past, there will be less money available from them for distribution for the time being.
During this off-season, you should look at how you can diversify your funding streams. Think about it as cross-training for your balance sheet! Start by considering what untapped channels are available to you.
The Funding HQ platform guides you through a ‘fitness’ test for funding diversification and uncovers new opportunities. We’ve built it specifically to help organisations like yours to help with the challenge of becoming more financially sustainable.
Update your plan
A rounded and well-executed game plan makes the difference to your game readiness in both sports and fundraising. Because so much has changed, now is the time to get creative.
To think ‘outside the box’ while also staying true to your identity, try starting with the vision and values of your organisation. Next, prioritise the needs you want to meet within your sports community. For example, you might decide the most important thing is to get your young elites to a national competition and inspire the generation that follows them. Alternatively, you may want to concentrate on attracting more first-time players to the game. Being able to express such goals clearly and share your aspirations will help cement the support you need. You might just need to adjust how you go about things until the pandemic and its effects have passed.
Creating a detailed plan in the off-season helps you in a couple of ways. Most importantly, you can make sure you have the right people and resources ready. You’ll also be able to capture all your victories – on and off the field – to report on to your funders.
Funding HQ has tools, templates, and techniques for each stage of your funding journey. In sports, a player has the best chance to excel when they have a strong team and a coach who puts their success first. In fundraising, you have Funding HQ to play this role.
We’ve created this Funding HQ because we know that sports bring together vibrant communities. We’re on your side, so let’s get you in good form.