Pre-Congress Workshop Series
Pre-Congress Workshop Series
Take a deep-dive into focused topics with sponsorship industry experts in a half-day workshop.
These workshops are designed for not for profit, corporate, and public sector sponsorship audiences, providing valuable insights and practical tools.
Each workshop is carefully crafted by an expert in the field, delivering actionable content, engaging discussions, and real-life case studies.
These intensive three-hour workshops delve deep into the topic, and will provide valuable tools and knowledge to enhance your sponsorship strategies.
Option 1 -Brent Barootes – Sponsorship 101
Kick off the Forum with this half-day, hands-on workshop led by sponsorship expert Brent Barootes.
Designed for both rights holders and sponsors, this session dives into the art and science of modern sponsorship.
You’ll explore:
- How sponsorship differs from advertising, philanthropy, and CSR
- The shift from transactions to long-term relationships
- Leveraging technology and AI in sponsorship marketing
- Key roles, responsibilities, and industry definitions
- Activation strategies and measuring ROI
- Best practices in proposal development and review
Whether you’re new to sponsorship or a seasoned professional, this bootcamp delivers practical tools, fresh insights, and lasting ROI. Newcomers will gain clarity and confidence, while experienced delegates can refresh their knowledge and share valuable perspectives.
Option 2 - Christi Cruz - The Marketing Edge: Turning Sponsorship into Sustainable Revenue
Strong sponsorship programs are built on strong brands.
If your sponsorship program feels harder than it should, the issue may not be effort — it may be positioning. Today’s sponsors are not looking for donation opportunities. They are looking for aligned, strategic partnerships with mission-driven brands that enhance reputation, engage priority audiences, and deliver measurable value.
Brand is not your logo or colour palette. It’s your strategic foundation — shaped by your reputation, clarity of purpose, consistency of message, and the emotional and competitive space you occupy in the market. Sponsors invest in brands that their clients see as trusted, distinctive, and clearly positioned.
When your brand is clear:
- Sponsors immediately understand how their reputation will be strengthened.
- Your audience becomes a defined and valuable asset.
- You can confidently justify higher investment levels.
- Partnerships feel like smart business decisions — not charitable gestures.
In today’s competitive sponsorship landscape, brand strength is as important as sponsorship basics. The clearer and more compelling your positioning, the easier the sponsorship cycle becomes and, the easier for your sponsor to say yes.
This interactive masterclass shows organizations how to unlock sustainable revenue through smarter sponsorship and corporate engagement — without compromising mission or integrity.
What You’ll Learn
- How to assess your organization’s sponsorship readiness, brand clarity and revenue potential.
- How to identify simple, fixable brand gaps that are currently limiting sponsor interest.
- How to shift the conversation from transactional “asks” to strategic, long-term partnerships.
- How to strengthen proposals with sharper positioning, greater confidence, and measurable value.