Belconnen Ramblers look local for funding opportunities

This is part two of a three-part series. Read part one here.

Partnering with local business works for Belconnen Ramblers

Belconnen Ramblers Basketball Club was named runner-up for the 2022 Good Sports ACT Club of the Year Award. It partners with local businesses and organisations to help fund the club and reward its members.

Club president Christopher Wattam shares his top tips for securing local sponsorships below.

Use your connections

According to Chris, at least 50 per cent of the club’s sponsorship leads come from talking to people and using the connections they have in the community.

“A lot of our sponsorships come from people we know, and that’s a big tip for other clubs. For example, we recently partnered with a national sports media company, and that lead came from the founder who was previously a member of the club,” Chris said.

“You’ll find that a lot of people want to give back, especially if they’re connected to your club or community.”

Since joining Good Sports, Belconnen Ramblers Basketball Club only accepts sponsorships from healthy businesses.

“One of the key changes we made with the assistance of Good Sports was to our sponsorship policy. After learning about the negative impacts of alcohol sponsorship, we decided to no longer accept them,” Chris added.

“Some of our big local partners now include a real estate agent, consulting firm, and insurance brokerage. Smaller partners include local restaurants and sporting supply stores.”

Spruce up your social media

“Many of our local sponsors have actively approached us, and a lot of the time they’ve found us through our social media, so we put a lot of effort into promoting our club there,” Chris said.

“For example, posting photos of our club members having a good time on game days and at training, and really showcasing the positive impact we have in the community.”

Social media is a valuable tool for local sports clubs and is a great way to share updates, facilitate conversations and engage with members and the community.

Check out the Good Sports Professional Social Toolkit for information and guidance on how to use social media to kick some goals.

Be proactive

Belconnen Ramblers Basketball Club also take a proactive approach to securing sponsors. They believe it’s important to identify the value they can bring to the table.

“If we see a great opportunity to work with a business that will provide mutual benefit, we’ll approach them with a proposition,” Chris continued.

“We are mostly looking for products or services that we can use as gifts or prizes for our members, rather than a cash injection as this is where we’ve had the most success. Things like vouchers from local restaurants, or sporting equipment and clothing.

“In return we offer advertising through our social media and at games and events which helps create brand awareness and endorses the sponsor as a responsible commercial citizen.”

Check out these other Good Sports resource pages:

• How to write a great grant application
• Where to find grants for your project