Hot take 🔥 Landing a sponsor could be the most important component of putting on a fantastic event. 

Why? Event sponsors can help make your event more fun for attendees while boosting your event ROI. The opportunity is only growing: 44% of corporate marketers increased sponsorship spending in 2023

But to attract potential sponsors, you need first to get noticed. It’s unlikely that sponsors will find you naturally — you need to be proactive to stand out from the crowd! 

This detailed list of event sponsorship examples explains the types of event sponsorship you can use at your next event. Use these ideas to visualize how other event organizers use sponsorships to set yourself up for success.

At Eventbrite, we’ve learned a lot from the thousands of brilliant event organizers using this platform. Keep reading to learn how you can maximize sponsorships to elevate your events. 

Choose your event sponsorship category

Activity-based event sponsorship examples

Food and beverage event sponsorship examples 

Swag and merch event sponsorship examples

Attendee wellness event sponsorship examples

Logistics and promotion event sponsor examples

Event sponsorship package examples

What companies prioritize when sponsoring an event

Event sponsorship examples and sponsorship benefits ideas

There are many reasons to source event sponsorship, such as reducing costs, as sponsors can cover certain event expenses (venue, catering, etc.). They can also boost your top-line sponsorship revenue, leaving you with more money for expenses. 

There’s no shortage of sponsorship opportunities out there — it’s estimated sports sponsorship alone will reach $19.8 billion in 2024. But how do you get sponsors? 

When approaching sponsors, consider the three most important sponsor objectives:

  • Creating awareness and visibility
  • Increasing brand loyalty
  • Building community and public relations

Companies may be willing to sponsor your event in exchange for advertising and other perks — but first, they want to see how your event can help them reach their marketing objectives. It’s up to you to show them! 

To make the most of sponsorships at your next event, we’ve put together some handy event sponsorship examples. We’ve covered ideas of what companies can sponsor at events — including activities, refreshments, swag, and more. You can use these in your event planning process, in your marketing strategy, or when pitching potential sponsors.

Plan your next event on Eventbrite

Guests at a corporate market event
Black Culture Market / Black Culture Market / London, UK

Activity-based event sponsorship examples

These activities at your next event can be sponsored by a company. This type of sponsorship gives the sponsor more brand visibility, your event attendees more activities to enjoy, and your business more revenue to work with.

Event attendees chatting around a table
LÔILÔI.Space / LÔILÔI Breakfast Club/ Los Angeles, CA

1.  Social mixers

Best for: Conferences, seminars, and B2B events

Networking opportunities are one of the top reasons guests attend conferences and other B2B events. Networking is beneficial for making new connections and finding work, and it’s a common form for job seekers to seek employment.  

But, as an event planner or organizer, you’re likely focused on your main event programming — which may or may not include networking opportunities. For sponsors, putting on a post-event social mixer can be an excellent opportunity to add value for your attendees. 

đź’ˇPro tip: Food and spirits companies can be a prime target for sponsoring networking events by providing free or discounted refreshments for the event.

2. Social photo booths

Best for: Community events, concerts, and festivals

Similar to an old-fashioned photo booth, social photo booths allow event attendees to take selfies. They also allow attendees to create looping videos and GIFs and post them directly online. Photo booths can be rented locally — just be sure to research costs ahead of time so you can price your sponsorship packages appropriately.

đź’ˇPro tip: Use an event hashtag in your photo booth, and encourage attendees to use the hashtag when sharing their photos. This can help you with social media brand-building and building excitement for your events. 

Event attendees creating art
Art Battle International / Art Battle SF / San Francisco, CA

3. Activity-based prizes

Best for: Most event types

Looking for an experiential and memorable way to get your sponsors in front of your attendees? Suggest sponsors award a useful or interesting prize to your attendees (such as swag bags). Then, pair the prizes with an activity, like a squat challenge or a hashtagged selfie share. 

đź’ˇPro tip: To increase engagement, consider making the activity a competition or a scavenger hunt that expands across the event.

4. DIY craft area

Best for: Family-friendly events and community events

Everyone has a crafty side, so why not engage your attendees’ creative passions with a craft area? You could have pre-made ceramic pieces for guests to paint, build-your-own terrarium stations, or simple glitter-and-glue craft stations. You can also encourage guests to share their creations on social media to enhance the sponsor’s reach.

đź’ˇPro tip: Browse Pinterest and other social media channels for inspiration for craft ideas. Then, think about how you can tie it into your event theme. You can also get your sponsor involved by using branded crafting supplies or tools.

Event attendees playing giant Jenga
Avocadocon / Avocadocon SF / San Francisco, CA

5. Play area

Best for: Family-friendly events and community events

Looking to have attendees blow off some steam? Include a playful activity in your event to help people have some fun between primary event sessions. 

Giant games of Jenga, chess, board games, or even a ball pit are excellent ways to capture guests’ attention. And it’s a creative way to give your sponsor branded game pieces that will get exposure on social media.

đź’ˇPro tip: Play areas can be for both kids and adults! If you’re hosting a large, family-friendly event, make sure that the play area is supervised and safe for children. Having a supervised play area can even be a selling point for event-goers, so make sure to advertise it in your marketing. 

6. Virtual or augmented reality

Best for: Community events, tech events, and hybrid events

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) allow sponsors to interact with attendees in ways they couldn’t otherwise. It’s also an exciting technology that many people have not yet tried — making it a good opportunity for event organizers. 

đź’ˇPro tip: Tie in VR experiences to the theme of your event. Tech conference? Test the latest game or tech demos in VR. Home and garden convention? Help attendees visualize their dream backyard in immersive VR.

7. Branded props

Best for: Social events and community events

Give attendees a photo-op setting complete with props, a character, and decorations. People love to share their event experiences on social media, showing everyone where they are and what they’re doing. Props offer a fun chance to be silly and pose for the camera.

đź’ˇPro tip: Branded props can help sell sponsorship packages to companies. But make sure that the props are genuinely fun/silly/interesting. Having a mix of branded and non-branded props can strike a good balance. 

8. TikTok platform

Best for: Social events and community events

TikTok has surged in popularity, clocking in 1.5 billion monthly active users in 2023. Coming up with a fun platform to stand on or an area to make TikToks can help attendees have fun, as well as highlight sponsor and event brands. During the event, host a TikTok Spot to get attendees to make their own videos for the app and exponentially multiply your event’s exposure.

đź’ˇPro tip: If you have the budget, provide a professional videographer or photographer to level-up content quality. This can also be an up-sell for different sponsorship levels. Consider a two-tier package with a pro included as an upgrade.

Food and beverage event sponsorship examples

Refreshments can be a key source of enjoyment during an event — and something for attendees to look forward to. Use these ideas to get sponsors involved with snacks, drinks, and simple indulgences at your next event.

Event attendees enjoying dessert
Elizabeth Shrier / SweetSpot Dessert Festival / San Francisco, CA

9. Treats

Best for: Most event types

There’s a certain truth to the old adage: The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. Set up a coffee and doughnut corner in partnership with a local bakery to provide free or discounted delectables. Or have a corporate sponsor cover the cost of a professional caterer at your next event. 

đź’ˇPro tip: A simple way to increase sponsor visibility is to order branded paper plates and/or napkins. This way, attendees will see the sponsor’s branding or logo multiple times as they enjoy their snacks. 

10. Water station

Best for: Most event types

Make sure your guests remain healthy and hydrated with a free water station. The label offers a great sponsorship opportunity for any company, with guests carrying the bottles around with them as they wander your event. Seek out sustainable bottle possibilities to avoid environmental concerns.

đź’ˇPro tip: Spice things up a bit with sparkling water or electrolyte powder at your water station. Or go all-out with a sponsor-paid juice bar.

Swag and merch event sponsorship examples 

Event swag is a classic sponsorship opportunity, and for good reason — it works! Sponsors love it because they know their branding will go home with attendees, and attendees will appreciate the free stuff. Consider these ideas to get more specific with sponsorship pitches and land-beneficial partnerships. 

11. Premium swag bags

Best for: Conferences and professional events

Customize a swag bag with premium merch not available to all attendees. If you really want to go for it, get sponsors involved to offer more high-end gifts, such as certificates for massages, tickets to shows, or wine.

đź’ˇPro tip: Everyone has enough cheap cups, water bottles, and T-shirts. Get more creative with branded merch. Consider hats, mouse pads, or theme-specific swag related to your audience. 

12. Digital swag bags

Best for: Virtual events and professional events

Digital swag might include free software, extended trials/discounts to services, or other digital perks. Set up a digital swag page to help event sponsors connect with attendees long after the event. It can also be a relatively inexpensive way for sponsors to get involved.

đź’ˇPro tip: Consider a multi-sponsor approach here. For instance, a tech conference might put together a digital swag bag with freebies from each sponsor, vendor, or event speaker. 

Attendee wellness event sponsorship examples

Attendees are at your event for a reason — but having some breaks between sessions can improve their overall enjoyment. Get sponsors involved with these relaxing ideas. 

Event attendees doing yoga
Grace Cathedral / Yoga on the Labyrinth / San Francisco, CA

13. Wellness breaks

Best for: B2B events and community events

Short movement classes like gentle yoga, hula-hooping, or even Zumba can help attendees take a mental break. And wellness areas can help your potential event sponsors connect with your audience in a meaningful way. At a busy, hectic event, these mindful breaks can be crucial for attendee enjoyment — and a great opportunity to create genuine goodwill for your sponsor.

đź’ˇPro tip: Make sure wellness breaks are inclusive to different ability levels. If you’re going the active route, include an alternative for attendees with limited mobility. Mindfulness meditation sessions can be an excellent alternative, as they’re suitable for everyone. 

14. Massage breaks

Best for: Professional events and conferences

Offer five- to 10-minute mini massages to engage guests with your sponsor’s brand. Even if your sponsors don’t provide these types of services, you can hire trained staff for the day and have them wear sponsor-branded clothing.

💡Pro tip: Offer a way for attendees to schedule mini-massage sessions ahead of time. This kind of activity works better in a staggered format (otherwise, you’ll need to hire a ton of massage therapists!)

15. Cool-down zone

Best for: Conventions and conferences

A break from roaming from presentation to presentation can be helpful at fast-paced events. Set up sponsored cool-down zones with a couple of couches, coffee tables, and chairs. Add refreshments and a video monitor or TV screen to help draw eyes and bellies.

đź’ˇPro tip: Cool-down zones can double as networking spaces. However, if you do have a separate area for networking, consider making your cool-down zone a quiet, restful space for attendees to recharge. 

16. Give back

Best for: Conventions and conferences

Use the spotlight of your event to draw attention to charities or causes. Host a sponsored charity drive — for example, attendees can opt to “sponsor” animals or land for wildlife conservation. You can even combine this sponsorship idea with the craft area to really make attendees feel like they’re getting involved for a good cause.

đź’ˇPro tip: Boost fundraising efforts by finding a sponsor to match donations. For example, a sponsor could offer to match attendee donations 1:1 up to $10,000. This can encourage donors to support the cause more generously.

Logistics and promotion event sponsor examples

Event logistics can be a handful for event creators. These ideas can help boost your budget or logistical firepower by getting sponsors involved.

Event attendees using an event app
Sidney Myer Music Bowl & Kings Domain / Ultra Australia 2023 / Melbourne, AUS

17. Event apps

Best for: Festivals, concerts, and conferences

No matter the size of your event, an event app is a must for providing a personalized experience for your attendees. Tech-savvy attendees expect them, and sponsors love to provide them because of access to attendee data and other insights.

đź’ˇPro tip: If you don’t have the budget or capacity for a custom app, use a free event app or approach potential event sponsors to cover the costs of development. 

18. Stairs or elevator wraps

Best for: Conventions, conferences, and B2B events

Does your venue have a grand entrance? Or maybe a few escalators you hadn’t really given a second thought to? Using intriguing stairs or escalator wraps can offer your sponsors a creative space to display their branding.

đź’ˇPro tip: Consider co-branding decorative features with your sponsor’s logo as well as your event logo. 

19. Wi-Fi

Best for: Most event types

For all your upcoming events, Wi-Fi access is a must — especially if you want to encourage people to engage with your event on social media. Sponsors can display their logo in the event brochure, on the event app, or signage around the event. The Wi-Fi network splash page is another great opportunity for branding and also to link to the sponsor’s website.

đź’ˇPro tip: Name your Wi-Fi network after your sponsor’s company name for better visibility. 

20. Social media displays

Best for: Most event types

A social media display highlights posts and photos with your event’s hashtag on Instagram and X/Twitter. By offering a social media display as a sponsorship package, sponsors can control the flow of posts and add their brand’s callouts to a regular circuit.

đź’ˇPro tip: Use social media walls in combination with branded event hashtags. Display the hashtags in your event brochures and email campaigns.

Live streaming at an event
NYC Fair Trade Coalition / Call to Earth Fashion Show / New York, NY

21. Live streaming

Best for: Hybrid events

Live streaming events can extend your reach and have a real impact on your bottom line. Offering a live stream as a sponsorship package can provide brands with the opportunity to engage with audiences on a wider scale. 

đź’ˇPro tip: Make sure to use a full-featured virtual events platform to power your live stream. You should also test internet speeds on-site, paying careful attention to upload speeds.

22. Privacy pods

Best for: Conventions and conferences

Fully enclosed booths offer a quiet place to make a phone call or have a meeting. They come in various sizes, from one-person to larger versions that seat four. They’re usually made of mostly glass wrapped with sponsored branding. Many come with power and Wi-Fi.

đź’ˇPro tip: You can also use privacy pods as a premium offering to VIP ticket holders if you’re selling multiple types of tickets. This approach can boost your ticket revenue while connecting sponsors directly with VIPs. 

23. RFID or QR-coded bracelets

Best for: Most event types

Many guests appreciate contactless access to event areas. Both RFID and QR-based solutions can work well — and can be opportunities for sponsors to step in. 

QR-coded bracelets can be more cost-effective without surrendering functionality. In fact, QR codes for events offer high-speed scanning to make entry more efficient and greater data capacity for increased usability. And because it can’t be copied, they also provide better data security.

đź’ˇPro tip: Use the Eventbrite Organizer Check-in App to scan attendee QR codes and expedite check-in. 

24. Cell phone charging station

Best for: Most event types

A charging station creates a great sponsorship platform with generous opportunities for customer engagement and activation. Sponsors will also appreciate the extended brand exposure that this opportunity presents as attendees wait around to charge their devices. 

đź’ˇPro tip: At larger events, a staffed phone charging station can help manage more devices and meet demand. You can even have attendees drop off their devices in exchange for a numbered card, then pick them up later with a full charge. 

25. Event landing page

Best for: All event types

To promote your event online, make sure to include a landing page as a central place to list all your event information. You can also approach a company to sponsor your landing page. Sponsored landing pages can help direct visitors toward shopping and discount opportunities, chat rooms, and other features.

đź’ˇPro tip: You can combine your event landing page with your event listing. That way, attendees can buy tickets, check the schedule, and find key event information all in one place. 

Event sponsorship packages: Examples

Sponsorship packages are pre-made packages that sponsors can purchase ahead of time with a predetermined price offered in a few different tiers.

The event sponsorship packages examples below showcase how a few Eventbrite creators used packages to attract sponsors. 

Convention event sponsorship package example: Coastal Comic Con

For large in-person events like conventions, sponsors look for publicity and branding opportunities at the event site. Be sure to highlight the reach of your event and the type of attendees you expect! Here’s an example of Coastal Comic Con’s simple sponsor benefits pitch: 

✨What they did well: Coastal Comic Con focused on simplicity, with only one sponsorship package available. They also highlighted the potential reach by calling out the number of consumers expected to view the sponsored advertising.

Comedy show sponsorship package example: Classic Man Comedy Show

At events expected to garner significant media coverage, highlight how the sponsor’s branding will be displayed in advertising. Here’s an example of a sponsorship pitch from the Classic Man Comedy Show.

Coastal Comic Con sponsorship package

✨What they did well: Stars Entertainment Group did a great job of thoroughly listing all the promotional materials and channels that the sponsor could benefit from. Getting granular with the terms (like 90 days of ads on Pandora) is beneficial for attracting larger corporate sponsors. These major ad buyers like to have details to better estimate the sponsorship’s reach (and compare it to other options). 

Nonprofit event sponsorship package example: Fine Art Museum of San Francisco 

Both companies and generous individuals can be targets for sponsorship of nonprofit events. A sponsor’s primary goal with a charity event may be to support a cause they’re passionate about. 

For these reasons, the charitable benefits of your event should be the focus of the event sponsorship proposal. Here’s an example of how the Fine Art Museum of San Francisco pitched event sponsors

The Classic Man Comedy Show sponsorship packagedetails

✨What they did well: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco did a good job of combining community benefits with sponsor-specific benefits. This package has the potential to appeal to companies looking for positive publicity as well as individual donors. 

Land the ideal sponsor for your next event

Sponsors can be very beneficial for both your business and your event’s attendee experience. And they can provide a good cash boost to start putting together your event budget template. These event sponsorship examples give you lots of ideas for what packages to offer sponsors.

Sponsors are just one tool in your toolbox. For success in event management and planning, make sure you’re equipped with the right technology, too! 

Eventbrite can help you level-up your events business with greater efficiency and a comprehensive toolset. With a full suite of tools covering ticketing, planning, check-in, and more, Eventbrite is the best event management software.