Funding Your Program

About the Money, Money, Money

Let’s talk dollars and cents. One of the biggest challenges for program organizers is finding funding for Open Streets programs. It’s sad but true. While many programs in Latin America are fully government funded, the trend so far in North America is a partnership model where the costs are shared between local governments, non-profit organizations, and corporate sponsorships or donations.

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Role of Local Government

Finding Funding

Approaching Funders

Building a Sponsorship Package

Role of Local Government

To achieve a best practice model of Open Streets it is very important to get your local government to the table. There are many programs in North America that have no government funding and little support, and while this may work in the short-term it is not sustainable and will limit your potential of delivering the healthiest program for your community in the longer term.

There are a number of costs related to an Open Streets program that government may be able to provide in-kind or waive fees for including:

Barricades and road closure signs
Permit fees
Cost of transit detours
Policing
Traffic management plan
Volunteers/volunteer database
Public notices and distribution costs
Meeting space for public forums

If your government cannot be involved in the early years, make sure you set an internal goal to get them involved in the future. Be sure to maintain a positive relationship with municipal staff and elected officials.

Finding Funding

Regardless of your potential funder, you will need to pitch your idea and ask for money or in-kind contributions. Make a list of potential funders and identify any corresponding leads (i.e. people on your team who have good relationships with the potential funders). Generally speaking, it is easier to have a few larger sponsors than many smaller sponsors. Each sponsor/funder will require time dedicated to relationship building and benefits (ie. logos on marketing material etc). So be strategic.

Potential funders may include:

Government/government departments (ie. Departments of Transportation, Recreation, Community Services, Public Health, Planning etc.)
Local grantmakers and foundations
Non-profit organizations
Banks
Real Estate developers
Successful local businesses
Business Improvement Districts/Areas
Companies with related brands (ie. sporting goods stores, lifestyle companies) (ie. healthfood store)
Insurance companies

Approaching Funders

Approaching potential funders requires having a strong internal understanding of your goals and key messages for the program, as well as an understanding of the goals and target market of the organization you are pitching the concept to. You also need to establish your team values and ethics, since you many have interested sponsors that contradict your brand. For example, a fast food company may be willing to help fund your program. However, a fast food company also helps contribute to the very health issues your program is hoping to address.

Building a Sponsorship Package

Just like when you are pitching your program to government agencies and local stakeholders, you are going to need a presentation package when meeting with potential sponsors. When developing your Sponsorship Package remember…

Develop an identity for your program and stick to it (key messages, slogan, logo, etc.)
Customize each pitch you make to the specific sponsor
Use numbers: stats, value of exposure, size of reach
Make your ask early in your meeting with your potential sponsor
Keep your pitch clear and brief
You need a presentation AND something to leave behind. Do not just leave a copy of your presentation
Consider giving potential sponsors a menu of different ways they can participate in your program
A picture is worth 1000 words! Use them to tell your story

Designing your Sponsorship Presentation

You will obviously tailor your presentation to your needs, but as the very least, be sure to include these 6 sections. but remember to keep things clear and brief.

1. The problem we are trying to solve

Why your community needs Open Streets
Show them the numbers! What are the statistics to back up the need

2. Your proposal: Open Streets

Sponsor’s Connecting to the route (branches, stores, target audience)
Impressions audience, exposure, PR (think about before, during and after each Open Streets date)
Opportunity for community and employee engagement

3. This is where YOU (the sponsor) comes in

Why your brand is a good fit
The ask: tell the sponsor what you want from them

4. The customized opportunity – what’s in it for YOU (the brand)

What is it? The values and beliefs
Where it all began, a brief history of the program
What Open Streets will look like in your city (map and timeline)
Add a rendering of what your Open Streets will look like if possible

5. Demonstrate existing energy surrounding Open Streets

Success of programs around the world (pictures and numbers)
Success and support for this kind of program in your community (if possible)
Local momentum for Open Streets (press coverage, expressed support)

6. Closing remarks

Thank you!
Contact information

You should always leave a package behind. It may include:

One-page information sheet about your Open Streets program. Think of it as an ‘Executive Summary” of your Sponsorship Presentation (the problem you’re trying to solve, your program as the solution, who your team is and what you want from the sponsor)
Budget overview for the program
Timeline for project implementation
Formal letter requesting sponsorship
Other items you believe would be relevant. But keep it brief!