How to Find Sponsors for Photography Club

If you're shy and don't want to do these things yourself, then maybe you should elect a club officer to take on these tasks. I'm sure as the club founder you're probably pretty busy and have a lot on your plate as it is. So maybe at the next meeting (or if you have a club mailing list, you can send out an e-mail now) you should suggest that there is a position open for someone interested in finding club sponsors, or just general fundraising. If no one steps up to the plate and you are forced to take on finding sponsors yourself, I've found that the first place to go to get sponsorship are companies that are somehow directly effected by students in the club. So at the next meeting let everyone know that you're looking for sponsors and ask the students to ask their parents if their company would be interested in sponsoring the club, ask their bosses if their company would be interested in sponsoring the club, etc. As for getting discounts, I know where I went to school, all of the local camera stores already gave discounts to all college students. So you may want to see if any local camera stores already do that. Just walk in and say, "I'm a student at Virginia Tech, I was just wondering if you had any sort of discount for college students." Then go from there! Good luck! If you can't find any sponsors, then you should come up with other fundraising ideas to raise money for t-shirts and equipment. You could always set up a booth at school events where students pay a small fee to have a souvenir photo taken. (I know photo keychains are usually a big hit!) My photo club raises money by holding photo contests with an entry fee. They charge everyone $10 per photo, up to 3 photos per person. Then then award cash prizes for the winner... which is taken out of all of the entry fees, plus there's always lots of money left over for the club! Then there's always generic fundraising ideas like car washes and bake sales!

One of the best ways to get sponsors for any school related club is to write letters to companies that have a related interest, in your case I would suggest Kodak, Olympus, Nikon, Fuji, etc. Identify yourself as president of the club, outline your goals as a club, detail how you will acknowledge their sponsorship, ie. company name or emblem on the shirts, posters for events, etc. Detail what you need from them, whether it's money or products or both, ask for assistance and advice. THANK THEM for their time and consideration. This approach will usually work with local retailers as well. Good luck, have fun, and have a great day!

I am sure the suggestions you have already received will work. Here is another that has worked for me...You are a photographer; so are you members. that means that they have dealings with local photographic dealers, and you can bet some will be very friendly with certain retailers. Why not organize a drive where you members are given responsibility to capitalize on those relationships by approaching businesses and seeking support?