As a retail company, we get asked to sponsor events and fundraisers at least once a week. As a small business, we can only sponsor so many organizations. There’s just so many great causes out there but, ultimately, we like to eat, too. Some asks are good, and some don’t have enough information about the who, what, where for us to know what it is you’re asking. How can we decide to spend money on your cause if you don’t even tell us what it is? (And yes, that happens!)
Asking for money is a daunting task. As someone who worked for a charitable organization for seven years, and who also runs her own charity TTRPG event, I still get nervous every time I send out a request. Nobody likes rejection!
I want to share some tips with you that will help write a quality ask to a company and (hopefully) increase your chances of getting a yes!
- Don’t ask over social media. Your message will get lost in the notifications, or said notification will get eaten. Its also super impersonal. The only instance where it would be okay is if you have a previous relationship with the company and you regularly use social media to talk to them.
- Do email. Yes, there’s still a chance it could get caught in a spam bin or lost in the rest of the emails. But email really is the main mode of business communications these days.
- Do say hi! You don’t necessarily need to know our names, and sometimes it can be hard to find that info. But use it if it’s listed! If you have a choice of people to email, don’t just address your message to the “man” / male-presenting person.
- Hi Adventure Dice!
- Hi Andrea and Blair!
- Do introduce yourself! Tell me your name and what you do. Have we chatted before or have you seen us at a convention? Mention it!
- My name is Andrea Driedger and I’m the Managing Director for Terminal City Tabletop Convention. I stopped by your booth at SHUX and we chatted a bit about my event.
- Do tell the company the details! The reader shouldn’t have to do a web search to figure out what you’re asking for. Tell me the name of the event/cause, what exactly it is, when it is, where it’s happening, where I can find out more information.
- This year’s Terminal City Tabletop Convention takes place March 13-15, 2025, at Vancouver Convention Centre West, in downtown Vancouver. This three-day event is dedicated to board games, tabletop roleplaying games, proto-games (games that are in-development), and our gaming community here in Metro Vancouver. You can find more info about our event at www.terminalcitycon.ca.
- Tell me how I can help! Or if you have a specific ask that you’d like, say it!
- We have a variety of ways that you can support our event: vendor booth, prize support, room naming, lanyards, and other general sponsorship. We would love to have you attend our event as a vendor! You would be our prime dice vendor.
- Sweeten the deal. Let them know how their donation will be recognized by you.
- We will include your logo on our website, in our information booklet, and we’ll name the vendor hall after your company.
- Do provide any additional information. I usually attach a sponsorship booklet that includes more information about my event including: attendance numbers, number of views, ways that the sponsors will be recognized. I also include sponsor tiers/options, so that they can see how much you’re hoping for and what they will include in return.
- Please find attached our sponsorship booklet, which includes our sponsor tiers, vendor information, and more information about our event.
- Thank them for their time, and provide any additional contact information.
- If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your consideration!
– Andrea
Andrea Driedger (she/her) | Managing Director
Terminal City Tabletop Convention
- If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your consideration!
Here’s the ask email all together. Feel free to copy it, but do try to personalize it and make it your own!
Hi Andrea and Blair!
My name is Andrea Driedger and I’m the Managing Director for Terminal City Tabletop Convention. I stopped by your booth at SHUX and we chatted a bit about my event.
This year’s Terminal City Tabletop Convention takes place March 13-15, 2025, at Vancouver Convention Centre West, in downtown Vancouver. This three-day event is dedicated to board games, tabletop roleplaying games, proto-games (games that are in-development), and our gaming community here in Metro Vancouver. You can find more info about our event at www.terminalcitycon.ca.
We have a variety of ways that you can support our event: vendor booth, prize support, room naming, lanyards, and other general sponsorship. We would love to have you attend our event as a vendor! You would be our prime dice vendor.
We will include your logo on our website, in our information booklet, and we’ll name the vendor hall after your company. Please find attached our sponsorship booklet, which includes our sponsor tiers, vendor information, and more information about our event.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your consideration!
– Andrea
Andrea Driedger (she/her) | Managing Director
Terminal City Tabletop Convention
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