How to get sponsors for an amateur sports club
To get sponsors for a sports club you need a clear pitch deck, concrete benefits (shirts, boards, social media, app) and real visibility in return. Clubily's digital self-financing integrates club sponsors and a club store so attracting and retaining local brands is easier.
Getting sponsors for an amateur sports club comes down to one idea: offering measurable visibility to local brands in exchange for money or in-kind support. Start by preparing a simple pitch deck with your number of members, matches, social media followers and reach in your town or neighbourhood; define packages with clear prices and benefits; and prioritise nearby businesses (hardware stores, bars, clinics, driving schools) that already know your families. Then deliver what you promised and prove the return with photos, mentions and data. Tools like Clubily help you provide that visibility digitally and finance the club without relying solely on membership fees.
Where do I start to find local sponsors?
Before knocking on any door, get your house in order. A business decides based on what you show it, not what you tell it.
- Gather your numbers: members, teams, players per category, matches per year, social media followers and average attendance.
- Define who you reach: families, neighbours, rival clubs that visit you.
- Make a list of relevant businesses: those who sell to your families or want local awareness.
- Prepare a 1-2 page pitch deck: who you are, how many people you reach and what packages you offer.
- Put a name and a face on it: have one specific board member responsible for sponsorships.
The key is moving from "can you help us?" to "I'm offering you this visibility for this price". That completely changes the conversation.
What can I actually offer a sponsor?
An amateur sponsor isn't after big audiences, they want proximity and a good image in their area. You have more to offer than you think: kits, facilities, events, social media and the club's digital channels. Combine physical and digital assets so the brand appears all season long, not just on match day.
| Sponsorship type | What you offer | Typical benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Main sponsor | Logo on the front of the shirt and maximum visibility | High annual contribution; often names campaigns |
| Secondary sponsor | Logo on sleeves, shorts or back | Medium contribution per season |
| Static advertising | Board at the pitch or arena | Seasonal fee depending on location |
| Event sponsorship | Tournament, presentation or charity day | One-off payment or material for the event |
| Goods or services (in-kind) | Kits, transport, physiotherapy, food | Visibility equal to the value provided |
| Digital sponsorship | Banner or ad in the club app and social mentions | Monthly or yearly fee; ideal for small businesses |
| Category sponsorship | A brand sponsors one specific team (juniors, seniors) | Contribution adapted to the business budget |
How do I give the sponsor real visibility so they renew?
Retention is more profitable than acquisition. A sponsor renews if they feel their money is doing something. Prove it:
- Constant visibility: shirt, boards, website, app and social media all season.
- Tailored content: post a welcome message, thank them after wins and tag their business.
- Return data: tell them how many people saw their ads, how many matches were played and what reach your posts had.
- Human touches: invite them to a match, the end-of-season dinner or to hand out a trophy.
- Final report: a season summary with photos and figures is worth more than a thousand calls.
How does Clubily help finance the club through sponsorships?
Clubily is AI-powered sports club management software: an app for iOS and Android plus a web panel. Its integrated self-financing is built exactly for this problem: it lets you display sponsors and ads inside the club app and open a club store, without depending on intermediaries that take a commission. That way you can offer your sponsors a new digital asset (their brand in front of every member who opens the app daily) and generate extra income from selling club products.
- Sponsors and ads in the app: a digital space to sell to local businesses.
- Club store: income from kits and merchandising.
- Internal communication and club news: the perfect channel to mention your sponsors.
- Live matches and AI statistics: engaging content where the brand appears.
- Online fee collection with overdue payment reminders: less reliance on sponsorship to balance the books.
Clubily offers the Team Plan from 9.99 €/month (one team, unlimited members) and the Club Plan from 17.98 €/month (8.99 € per team, 2 to 50 teams). If you want your own club app with self-financing and premium features, there is a tailored Personalized Plan. It is multi-sport (football, basketball, volleyball, rugby and more coming soon) and available in 5 languages. Based in Madrid, contact at info@clubily.es.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge an amateur sponsor?
There is no fixed rate: price each asset (shirt, board, app) according to your real reach and offer packages starting from small amounts so any local business can join.
Is in-kind sponsorship worth it?
Yes. Kits, transport or physiotherapy have real economic value; treat them like a normal sponsorship and give visibility equal to the value provided.
Can I have sponsors and charge fees at the same time?
Yes, and it's recommended. Fees give stability and sponsorship lowers the cost for families. Clubily manages both: online fee collection and sponsorship spaces in the app.
Do I need an app to sell digital sponsorships?
It isn't essential, but it helps a lot. An ad space in an app your members open daily is an asset that is easy to sell and easy to prove.
If you want to professionalise sponsor acquisition and open new income streams, try Clubily and start with the Club Plan at /es/club, or check the Personalized Plan at /es/personalized to get your own app with integrated self-financing.