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CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP 

Seeking corporate support for a cause is becoming increasingly competitive in these times of fiscal cutbacks. By targeting specific businesses and carefully modeling one's approach, the chance of receiving a positive response is greatly enhanced. 

Outlined below are guidelines to provide assistance‑to those who are planning a corporate sponsorship strategy. 

Key Messages: It is important to have clear objectives for the project you wish to sell. Ours is NCW. Therefore you want to have prepared some key messages to present to the people from whom you are soliciting support. Here are a few suggestions of key messages. 

·         It is important to develop a highly trained work force whose expertise will contribute to Canada's role in world‑wide scientific advancement.

·         There is a shortage of trained chemists to fill the pressing need for expert personnel in industry and research.

·         There is a need to encourage our brightest students to choose a career in chemistry.

·         Public awareness of chemistry's role in our daily lives is very low. We should all work together to dispel the notion of "chemophobia" 

Prepare summary notes on NCW and your organization: The corporate sponsors will want to know if they are supporting a stable group and a worthwhile cause. Brief notes on the inception and history of National Chemistry Week follow and may be of use to you in preparing such notes.


Notes on NCW 

In 1988, a national science literacy survey showed that public awareness and understanding of science and technology was low among Canadians. 

The Canadian Society for Chemistry, therefore, decided to hold a National Chemistry Week to highlight the contributions of chemistry to modem society and its enormous potential for future generations. 

The first NCW was held in 1989, but the level of Local Section participation was low. In 1990, at least 18 organizations reported having staged events with good results. They were successful enough to warrant the institution of NCW as an annual event. 

In 1990, The Chemical Institute of Canada took over the administration of National Chemistry Week to include all chemical professions to become more involved. 

Levels of participation a corporation may select: Corporate sponsorship may take the form of a cash donation or the provision of services or materials at no charge, ie. catering, use of hall or boardroom, technical support, printing, public relations advice, graphic or design services, etc. Make sure you are prepared to ask for a specific amount of funds or services for a specific project or part of a project.  In return, and depending on the value of the donation, you may present options as to how the corporation is to be recognized. These basic steps can certainly be expanded upon and tailored to your specific‑projects.
 

 

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