Just because your organization was not able to get all your:

• points in during a conversation,
  
• elements into a program,
  
• information into a marketing campaign,
  
• slides into a PowerPoint presentation,
  
• links on the website
  

does not always mean that your customers or clients know what was left-out. How many times have we ‘kicked ourselves’ because we missed an element or did not include certain information? Yet the realization is that there are no margin notes that say ‘this information was not included.’ Make sure you get the critical pieces included and focus on the ‘Big Rocks’. There will always be little pebbles and pieces of sand that do not fit into the vessel but if you get the big rocks in then you can feel proud.

It should be simple, right?

The other day it struck me that you do not always need money to sponsor an event. Just think about the opportunities that exist daily that are free. Intel claims to be “the sponsor of tomorrow.” I do not think they had to pay a cent for the rights (except to a marketing department). TGIF has built it’s campaign around sponsoring the concept of Friday. What can you sponsor that so ubiquitous that we never have thought of attaching our enterprise to… weather, days of the week, future moments in time, emotions, memorable moments, forces of nature, etc.

The list is really endless and yet a creative opportunity to springboard marketing campaigns with no contracts.

If you are looking for existing funding opportunities consider all the youth sports leagues that suddenly find themselves trying to replace the Ford, GM, Chrysler logos that use to adorn their sports jerseys. I listened to an interesting piece on ESPN radio bemoaning the lose of these critical sponsors. Many open doors to make a difference and be a savior for community programs.

What opportunities have opened themselves which were never considered options previously?