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- Sponsorship is a trade, not a donation: your money buys specific, named things.
- Get every placement in writing — where your name goes, how big, on what, and by when.
- Agree how you will check delivery before you pay: photos, the film, and a written report.
- Ask for the deadline that puts your name into print, and hold the organiser to it.
What event sponsorship actually is
Sponsorship is a trade. You pay towards an event, and the organiser gives you named things in return: your name in front of an audience, in print, on film and online. A donation asks for nothing back. A sponsorship should ask for everything it paid for, in writing.
That changes how you read a proposal. The question isn’t whether the event is worthy. It’s whether the organiser can tell you exactly what you get, and prove afterwards that you got it.
What to ask for in writing
Before you pay, ask the organiser to list every benefit in one document. Each line should say what it is, where it appears, and when it is delivered.
| What you get | What to pin down | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Name on the stage | Which backdrop, what size, and which position | “Logo on the backdrop” can mean a corner nobody sees |
| Name in print | Which items — tickets, programmes, score sheets, certificates — and the print deadline | Print has a hard cut-off; miss it and your name isn’t there |
| Film credit | Opening or closing card, and whether it appears on every clip cut from the event | The film outlives the night |
| Online mentions | Which pages and accounts, and from what date | Your name should appear before the event, not only after |
| A report | What it contains and the date you receive it | It’s how you know the rest was delivered |
If the organiser offers tiers, ask for the difference between them in the same terms. “Gold” and “silver” mean nothing until they are placements and dates.
Dates that decide whether you get what you paid for
Most sponsorship disappointments are timing problems. Your name can only go on a backdrop that hasn’t been printed yet, and in a film that hasn’t been cut yet.
Ask for three dates:
- The decision date — the last day you can sign and still get every benefit on the list.
- The print date — when backdrops, programmes and certificates go to the printer.
- The report date — when you receive proof of delivery.
If you sign after the print date, ask which benefits you lose, and pay only for what is left.
How to check the sponsorship was delivered
Agree how delivery will be proved before the event, not after. A good report answers four questions:
- Where did our name appear? Photographs of the backdrop, print and certificates.
- Where is the film? Links to the film and clips, with your credit visible.
- Who was there? The real headcount, whatever it was.
- What was published? Links to every page and post that named you.
A careful organiser will say what they will report before you ask. If they can’t describe the report, they probably won’t send one.
Questions to ask an organiser before you pay
- Is the company registered, and what is its registration number?
- Who is the named person responsible for our benefits?
- What exactly is in each tier, in placements and dates?
- What is the deadline to be in print?
- What goes into the report, and on what date?
- What happens to our money if the event is cancelled or moved?
The answers should come back in writing. Hesitation on any of them is worth noticing.
How we handle partners at FSN Voices
FSN Voices is our choir championship in Ipaja, Lagos, on 5 December 2026. Future Stars Network Ltd is registered with the CAC (RC-8890527). For Chapter One we take one title partner or up to three supporting partners, and we confirm partners by 7 November 2026, so every partner’s name goes to print with everything else.
What a partner gets is listed, line by line, on Sponsor Chapter One. Because every judge’s mark is published the same evening, a partner’s name sits next to a result the choirs can check — see how the choirs are judged.
Questions sponsors ask
What is event sponsorship?
What should a sponsorship agreement include?
How do I know a sponsorship worked?
How does sponsoring FSN Voices work?
Last checked 29 September 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email info@futurestarnetwork.com.