Your sponsorship proposal deck is the final step in your journey with your potential sponsors. Making a great last impression is important! But there are a few details that have become standard in proposal decks that are totally overrated. Cutting out these parts will focus all the attention on the most important part of working with you — what you can do for them. If your sponsorship proposal deck has these elements, try creating a version with these adjustments.

#1 No Pictures Needed

No pictures, no fancy branding. This proposal should be just a plain Word document—this is a business deal, after all. The only images I would say are okay to include are renderings of your car design, uniforms, trailer, etc. that will be branded with their company details IF you have both agreed on the designs of these items. Typically this step comes after you sign the contract.

#2 Remove What Sponsors Already Know

Remove your biography, accomplishments, racing history, and car stats. The company you are pitching to should already know this information from meeting with you and looking you up online. These additions are just fluff—get straight to the point and save trees.

#3 You Don’t Need Package Structures

Remove sponsorship packages (gold, silver, and bronze tiers). The company should have discussed with you exactly what they want for the sponsorship and what they will provide for you, whether that’s product and/or funding. You are no longer pitching to them; you are now negotiating prices and deliverables and what you can provide for their budget. So get rid of anything other than exactly what they’re getting.

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#4 Don’t be Lazy with Your Deliverables

You need to be specific here! Exactly where are you going to put their logo and what size will it be? Even if you’re adding 20 logos onto your firesuit, helmet, car, and crew uniforms, you have to list out each item’s size and location. Are you going to provide hospitality or event tickets? Will you be doing displays? Whatever it is you are promising to deliver, you need to explain the details for each item.

Bonus — Sponsorship Proposal to Contract with One Click

Did you know you can turn your proposal into a contract? Once it’s finished and both parties agree on all of the terms, schedule, and deliverables, you can simply add a page at the end for some legal jargon and signatures and make the proposal a legally binding document. That way, nothing gets lost in translation from proposal to contract.

Not sure what the difference between a deck and a proposal is? I explained them both in a blog post. Read it HERE.