For marathons, half marathons, 10Ks and 5Ks
Sponsors for every mile of your race
From the title sponsor on the finisher medal to the local business at mile 9, a race is sponsored a little at a time. Sponsor Trove keeps every sponsor, package and deadline in one place, so race day is the only thing left to worry about.
What race sponsors buy
Race packages follow the runner's day, from packet pickup to the finish line.
Title and presenting sponsors
The sponsor's name on the race itself, the medal, the bib and every piece of race communication.
Bib and medal sponsors
A logo on the bib every runner wears, or on the finisher medal they keep.
Start and finish line
Branding on the arches, the most photographed spot of the day.
Water stations and mile markers
A station or mile with the sponsor's name and volunteers, a good fit for local businesses.
Race shirt
A logo on the participant shirt, usually sold in tiers by logo size.
Expo and packet pickup
Booths at the expo or packet pickup, where runners have time to browse.
Charity partners
Nonprofits that recruit runners or fundraise through the race, sometimes paying for charity entries.
Who sponsors races
Race sponsors want to reach active, local people and be part of a community day. Typical sponsors include:
- Hospitals, orthopedic and physical therapy practices
- Running and sporting goods stores
- Banks and credit unions
- Car dealerships and insurance agencies
- Breweries, coffee shops and restaurants
- Nutrition, hydration and fitness brands
The race sponsorship calendar
Race sponsorships are tied to print and production deadlines that come well before race day.
- 6–9 months out: Set packages and your goal, and give last year's sponsors first right of renewal, especially the title sponsor.
- 3–6 months out: Reach out to new sponsors, timed with registration opening and your marketing push.
- 6–8 weeks out: Shirt, bib and medal deadlines. Collect logos and confirm what each sponsor gets.
- After the race: Send sponsors photos and participation numbers, and ask about next year while the day is fresh.
How Sponsor Trove helps
Every sponsor from start line to finish
Each sponsor is a deal tagged with its package, from the title sponsor to water station 6. Set a goal for the race and track it as sponsors sign on.
- Package, amount and owner on every deal
- A goal for each race
- Run several races from one workspace
Get every logo before the shirt deadline
Set follow-ups on every sponsor still deciding, and on every logo you're still waiting for. One click shows everyone due today.
- Follow-ups with dates and owners
- One click shows everything due today
- Quiet deals flagged automatically
Know who opened your sponsorship packet
Send your packet as a link. Everyone who opens it is added to your pipeline, and you can see who's come back to look again.
- See who opened it and when
- Each reader becomes a deal automatically
- Your race's logo and colors on the link
Sponsor emails, on the deal
Connect Gmail and every email with a sponsor lands on their deal, so your race director and volunteers can see what was promised.
- Read-only, and only emails with your sponsors
- Everyone at a sponsor's company is matched
- See who's waiting on a reply
Questions
What should be in a race sponsorship package?
Clear tiers with a price and exactly where the sponsor's name appears: race name, bib, medal, shirt, arches, course signage, emails and social posts, plus any expo booth or race entries included. Add your race's audience: how many runners, where they come from and how many spectators line the course.
How do small races find sponsors?
Start local: businesses your runners already use, companies whose employees run, and last year's sponsors. Lower-priced packages such as a water station or mile marker are an easy first yes.
We organize several races a year. Can we track each one?
Yes. Create an event for each race with its own goal, and view one race or all of them on the board.
Can volunteers on our race committee use it?
Yes. Invite them, give each sponsor an owner, and assign follow-ups so nobody calls the same business twice.
Related guides: What to include in a prospectus · Sponsorship prospectus template