RamBand Sponsorship

 Click here for the business sponsorship form.

We’re pleased to announce an exciting new program for local businesses:  sponsorship of the Central Dauphin RamBand.   Sponsors can choose to donate on seven different levels ranging from $50 as a “Friend” to $2,500 as “Platinum Sponsor” of the band.  Click here for an overview of the Sponsorship levels.  The program's also exciting for students for two reasons.  First, students are eligible for up to 30% of each sponsorship for their student accounts.  Second, in an effort to start this solicitation campaign off on the right foot, we're going to run a bunch of incentives for band students, described in more detail below!!

Maintaining a superior high school music program such as the RamBand requires commitment from students, educators, parents, and boosters. It also requires the financial support of generous sponsors.  Business sponsorship is invaluable to maintaining one of the premier and most recognizable music programs in our region. Sponsors' support will enable the RamBand to continue to expand, to maintain the existing instrument inventory, to provide instruments for those who might not otherwise afford them, and to cover numerous other expenses, large and small.

Besides the pure, warm glow, attained by the knowledge that one is patron of the arts (a time-honored music tradition-- if it's good enough for Mozart, it's good enough for us), RamBand sponsors will enjoy more tangible, practical benefits, too, including the band booster loyalty, recognition on this website in the Band-a-RAMa and Legends of Music Concert programs, Golf-a-RAMa hole sponsorship, and Bowl-a-RAMa lane sponsorship, as well as documentation that  sponsors can display at their place of business. Furthermore, instead of asking businesses to contribute several times over the course of a year, we will be asking the business to contribute only once under this corporate sponsorship program.

Everybody Wins:

 • Band families get a powerful fundraising alternative that involves reaching out to local businesses they already patronize or which, at least, are already familiar with the "product" we're marketing (the RamBand or more generally the high school music programs).  And, as explained in more detail below, the commission on booster sponsorships will provide a significant benefit to your student account.

• The Boosters get a regular source of revenue.

• Local businesses get recognition among a local and loyal customer base-- us!

How it Works:
The premise is simple;  Contact local businesses to support the RamBand.  The mechanics, though, of a comprehensive and efficient business sponsorship campaign are a bit more intricate.  Here is an overview of the steps of the program (click on each step for a more detailed explanation):

1.  Compile a list of potential sponsors.

2.  Mail RamBand Sponsorship Packet.

3.  Booster/student follow-up to close the sale.

4.  Booster/student follow-up to express thanks and to distribute the "goodies."

Step One:  Compile the List
The Boosters not only took the businesses you've referred to us but also purchased a list of businesses that operate within a certain distance of the Central Dauphin High School.  It's not too late to refer businesses for the Sponsorship program:  Families can still submit a list of businesses they would like to solicit for sponsorships.  These businesses may or may not be among those on the list purchased by the Boosters.  They could be in Timbuktu for all we care!!  Click here for an online business sponsorship form or click here for a hard copy version of the form.

Because more than one family may submit the same business, we will use a first come, first served system to attempt to assign businesses to families.  To permit everybody a fair shot at a contacting businesses, we may initially limit a family's selections under the first come, first served approach.

What type of businesses should you consider asking to become a band sponsor?    Well, here are a few suggestions of folks to submit as sponsorship prospects:

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Step Two:  Boosters Mail the Sponsorship Packet
On or about July 15, the boosters will send a mailing to the businesses we've targeted as potential sponsors.  The mailing will include an introductory letter and a sponsorship form.  While we hope the business contact will be so overwhelmed by the prospect of sending us money without further ado, it's not likely that'll happen.  So the letter will explain that a band family will be in contact in the next week or so to follow up and to answer any questions.  That's where you come in!

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Step Three: Booster/Student Follow-up to Close the Sale
On or about July 15, about the same time we mail the sponsorship packet to the businesses on the mailing list we've accumulated, we will send to you the list of businesses to which we've assigned your family.  This list will include contact information, if available, too.  

We ask that you call only on those businesses which have been assigned to you by  the Sponsorship Committee!  That way, if you want to ask your dentist to sponsor the band, and that dentist sees thirty other RamBand members as patients, we don't look like a disorganized mob.  The last thing we want is our dentist to be mad at us . . . .  We will try to respond as quickly to all requests to add businesses to your list of contacts.

Because the sponsorship packets will be sent via non-profit mail rates, please wait a week or so to give the mailings time to arrive at the contact.  On or about July 15, you can start following up.  We recommend starting by letting your fingers do the walking.  If you're calling on businesses you submitted as potential sponsors, you already should have an "in."  But even if you're calling a business with which you have no relationship, don't sweat it!  They all have heard of our school and have heard of or at least realize that we have a band program!  Just run through the Talking Points outline we've prepared, be yourself, and explain what we're doing.  If they're not interested, so be it, be courteous, invite them to Band-a-RAMa, and move on.  If a business is interested in one of the top sponsorship levels, or wants information that you're not able to provide, just let them know that someone from the Sponsorship Committee will get back to them.

To encourage student participation in this important fundraising event, up to 30% of the sponsorship funds will go into the student's account.  Plus  we are going to have a bunch of great prizes, including the following:
 

Individual Prizes:
$500 in sponsorships:
EITHER
$15 iTunes gift card
OR
$25 gift card from either
American Eagle, Borders, f.y.e., Gander Mountain or Gap

$1500 in sponsorships:
EITHER
$90 in iTunes gift cards
OR
$100 gift card from either
American Eagle, Borders, f.y.e., Gander Mountain or Gap

Top Seller (dollar volume (minimum $3000)):
EITHER
$225 in iTunes gift cards
OR
$250 gift card from either
American Eagle, Borders, f.y.e., Gander Mountain or Gap

Top Seller (number of sponsorships (minimum 10)):
$100 gift card from either
American Eagle, Borders, f.y.e., Gander Mountain or Gap
 

Group Prizes:
50% Band Participation (at least one sponsor, Friend level or above): 
Each participating band student receives a Blockbuster Night Card,
a one-time use coupon redeemable for
2 DVD or VHS movie rentals,
one popcorn tub,
and two 20 oz Coca-Cola beverages.
 
75% Band Participation  (at least one sponsor, Friend level or above):
Each participating band student receives a $25 gift card from either
American Eagle, Borders, f.y.e., Gander Mountain or Gap

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Step Four: Booster/Student Follow-up to Express Thanks
Many of the sponsorship levels involve invitations to concerts, Band-a-RAMa tickets, and other small tokens of appreciation.  We will ask the band family that solicited the sponsorship with the business to follow up by presenting these items in person.  This provides a great way to follow to express our thanks and to set the stage for a repeat sponsorship next year!

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