Auction sponsorship versus underwriters

Is there a difference between a sponsor and an underwriter?

I thought there was, but when I surfed online, I saw interchangeable titles such as:

• Auction Underwriters & Sponsors
• Auction Sponsor Underwriting Opportunities
• Underwriting sponsorship
• Sponsor/Underwriter

It seems that definitions from various fund raising sites suggest auction underwriters and auction sponsors are the same thing. It’s a matter of preference as to what you wish to call it.

But I’m going to go against conventional benefit auction wisdom (imagine that…) to argue that I think they should be different.

Here are my definitions.

Auction Underwriting Opportunities

An auction underwriter pays for the cost of a product or service in the benefit auction.

• If the band charged $10,000, the underwriter of the band pays $10,000.
• If the printed materials cost $7042, the underwriter of the printing pays $7042.

The underwriter doesn’t pay substantially more (or less) than the cost of the service or product they are underwriting and receives unique benefits related to that item.

Auction Sponsorship Opportunities

An auction sponsor is buying into a package. The package isn’t tied to a specific cost of a product or service.

A sponsor might buy a modest $500 sponsorship that includes a table for 10 at the gala and recognition in the auction catalog. Or Company XYZ could opt for a $50,000 Presenting Sponsorship which changes the official name of the “2011 School Auction Gala” to “2011 School Auction Gala, Presented by Company XYZ.”

Using my definitions, your group can market a well-developed slate of sponsorships with appropriate benefits ($1000, $5000, $10,000, etc), and also offer underwriting opportunities to companies and individuals that – because of their business or personal interests — would be keen to pay for a specific service or product.

For instance, a bank works with money. It seems to be a natural business to approach when you seek an underwriter to cover the costs of new check-out software … or a check-out service.

And a liquor store might be a logical underwriter of the bar.

And companies or individuals without a natural tie to a product or service your organization needs to have underwritten can be approached to buy a sponsorship.

This gives you a natural breakdown.  As you generate a list of companies to approach, you can put them in the proper category and target them for future donations.