Sponsorships as Strategy: A Reliable Revenue Stream for Chapter Growth

In this series on chapter revenue generation, we’re focusing on three keyways AMPP chapters can generate income to grow their impact:

1. Sponsorships
2. Hosting AMPP courses
3. Chapter-run events like meetings and technical dinners

Each of these opportunities plays a different role in building your chapter’s financial foundation. Sponsorships, in particular, offer something especially valuable: predictability. When cultivated thoughtfully, they provide consistent support year over year—and they can grow alongside your chapter.

This post is not about how to build sponsorship packages (we’ve covered that in detail in past blog posts, found here), but rather how to rethink sponsorships as a strategic, long-term revenue tool.

Why Sponsorships Matter Beyond the Event

It’s easy to think of sponsorships as a way to cover venue or catering costs for a single event—but that’s a short-term mindset. The real power of sponsorships lies in how they:

• Create recurring, low-effort revenue
• Forge lasting relationships with local industry partners
• Strengthen your chapter’s reputation and professionalism
• Free up other funds for new initiatives (like scholarships or student outreach)

When you stop seeing sponsorships as a “bonus” and start treating them as part of your chapter’s annual planning, you create financial stability—and room to grow.

Make Sponsorship Part of Your Year-Round Strategy

Sponsorship doesn’t have to be limited to one technical dinner or training session. You can have success with:

• Annual chapter sponsors who support multiple events
• Bundled packages that include visibility across courses, meetings, and newsletters
• In-kind sponsors who donate materials, services, or giveaways in exchange for recognition
• Scholarship sponsors who support student programs or awards

The key is consistency. Reuse the same sponsorship flyer. Recognize sponsors across multiple touchpoints. Follow up after each event with results and appreciation. And keep building relationships.

If you already have a sponsorship package, consider updating it with options for visibility at courses and technical meetings—two great ways to add more value for sponsors while increasing chapter revenue.

What Sponsors Really Want

Sponsors aren’t just paying for logo placement. They want:

• Visibility with potential customers
• Credibility through association with AMPP and its chapters
• A way to show support for workforce development and industry education
• A simple, no-hassle process

This is where your chapter has the advantage. You know the local landscape. You have members who are their target audience. And you have the tools to help you deliver a polished sponsorship experience.

The ROI for Your Chapter

Here’s how sponsorship revenue has been used by other chapters:

• Printing signage and banners for courses, meetings and events
• Covering speaker fees or travel costs
• Funding custom awards or giveaways
• Creating student scholarships
• Promoting chapter events through digital ads non social media
• Building hybrid meeting capabilities for rural or remote members

Even small amounts—$250 to $1,000 per sponsor—add up. They allow you to plan ahead, invest in new programs, and strengthen your chapter’s presence in the industry.

Next Steps: Make It Intentional

If your chapter already has a sponsorship flyer and packages, revisit it through this lens:

• Is it structured to support multiple events or just one?
• Does it give sponsors options for visibility across all of your chapter’s activities?
• Are you offering annual packages or renewal incentives?

1. Smart Sponsorships: Why They Matter and How to Make Them Work for Your Chapter
2. Building a Sponsorship Package That Sells Itself
3. How to Reach Out to Sponsors with Confidence: Scripts, Follow-Ups, and Real Examples That Work
4. Delivering Value and Retaining Sponsors: How to Build Relationships That Last Year After Year

Up Next: Hosting Meetings and Technical Dinners for Revenue

In the next blog, we’ll shift gears and talk about how technical meetings and dinners, while often seen as break-even events, can actually serve as a meaningful revenue stream with the right structure and promotion.

Have question or need help getting started? Reach out to chapters@ampp.org. We are here to help!

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