How To Create a Youth Sports Sponsorship Package (+ Free Template)

Asking local businesses for sponsorship money can feel awkward and overwhelming. You’ve got enough on your plate with practices, schedules, and parent updates. Now you’re supposed to ask someone to write a check?

Here’s the good news: Every sponsor you bring on board helps cover essentials like uniforms, equipment, and field rentals, so you’re not stuck scraping together funds each season. And creating a solid sponsorship package is easier than you might think.

This guide walks through how to build a youth sports sponsorship proposal that gets sponsors on board, plus how to promote it without feeling pushy.

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What is a typical youth sports sponsorship package?

A youth sports sponsorship package is a win-win. Local businesses offer financial support to help cover your team’s expenses, and in return, they get visibility in your community.

This might mean putting their company logo on your jerseys, team banners, or website, plus shoutouts on social media or in your team newsletter. The value is clear: Sponsors get to show they support local kids while offsetting the rising costs of youth sports.

The difference between sponsorships and donations

A chart showing the difference between sports sponsorships and donations

Many youth sports organizations ask community members to sponsor or donate to their teams. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they’re actually two different types of support.

A donation is charitable and directly benefits your organization. Donors are usually individuals who give equipment or small amounts of money without expecting anything in return. And while donations are often smaller than sponsorships, they’re still a valuable way to fund your team.
Sponsorships, on the other hand, typically come from local businesses looking for mutual benefits. In exchange for their financial support, they get promotional opportunities that make a bigger impact and help them connect with your audience.

You see sponsorships all over youth sports, whether you realize it or not. That visibility is part of what makes them so valuable.

Why are youth sports sponsorships so important?

In 2024, the NFL brought in $2.49 billion in sponsorship revenue. Even at the collegiate level, schools like Millersville University offer sponsorship packages ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, with perks like signage at entrances, PA announcements, complimentary tickets, and recognition on the website.

If sponsorships can generate that kind of revenue at the pro and college level, imagine what even a few local sponsors could do for your youth team’s budget. The average annual cost for a child to play a primary sport is $1,016 — a 46% jump since 2019. Sponsorships help cover those rising costs and make youth sports more accessible for families.

They also open the door to new opportunities for young athletes like better equipment, more tournaments, skill development camps, and even scholarships.

Beyond the financial perks, sponsorships help build stronger community ties. They create genuine partnerships between your team and local businesses. When a restaurant sponsors your team, they’re investing in your players while getting their name in front of local families who are likely to become loyal customers. It’s just like Nike getting exposure through the NFL, but on a neighborhood level.

Sponsorship prices can range from a few hundred dollars for a local rec team to several thousand for a competitive travel team in a larger league.

For example, if your team has 12 players, the total cost to fund a full season might be around $5,100. While that may sound steep, just 10 sponsors contributing $500 each would cover your entire year.

What to include in a youth sports sponsorship package

A strong sponsorship package helps turn interest into action. Before anyone says yes, they need to know what your team stands for and what they’ll get in return.

Here’s what to include in your youth sponsorship package:

Team overview and mission

Kick things off by sharing your team’s story: what you stand for, your core values, and your goals beyond the scoreboard. Maybe you’re focused on building character, keeping kids active, or creating opportunities for underserved families.

When local businesses see your mission and the impact you’re making, they’re more likely to step up and support you.

Audience demographics

Include details about who you’re reaching. Share the number of players on your team, their age ranges, and how many families are involved. Don’t forget about your broader community impact through games, tournaments, and events. Local businesses want to know if your audience overlaps with their customer base.

Sponsorship opportunities and tiers

Create multiple sponsorship levels with clear benefits and pricing. For example, you could have a ‘Gold Sponsor’ level at $1,500, a ‘Silver Sponsor’ at $750, and a ‘Bronze Sponsor’ at $500. Each tier should come with increasing value, like logo placement on uniforms for Gold sponsors and team banners for Bronze.

An example sports sponsorship package with various levels, prices and benefits

With this approach, both the coffee shop on the corner and the local bank can find the level of sponsorship that fits their budget.

Benefits for sponsors

Outline what sponsors get in return: banners at games, mentions on your website, or shoutouts during events. Be specific about the value. Saying that over 200 families will see their logo during home games is more compelling than a vague bullet point like “logo placement.”

Don’t forget to highlight digital benefits like mentions in social media posts and website recognition that extend your sponsors’ reach beyond game day.

If you’ve had sponsors before, include short quotes or examples of how the partnership helped them. Maybe the local restaurant saw a 20% increase in family foot traffic after sponsoring your team. These real results help build trust.

Even if this is your first sponsorship package, you can still include testimonials from parents or community members who’ve seen your team’s positive impact and visibility in the area.

Contact information and next steps

Make it easy for sponsors to reach you. Include your name, phone number, email, and the best time to connect. Spell out the next step, whether that’s scheduling a quick call, meeting for coffee, or sending back a signed agreement. Don’t leave potential sponsors guessing or digging for your info.

Free sponsorship package for youth sports

The key to successful sponsorships is offering what local businesses actually want. While your package will vary based on your sport and audience, we’ve included a free sponsorship package template to help you get started.

No matter your location, team size, or goals, be sure to offer multiple tiers with different price points and increasing value.

Download the template and make it your own!

How can I create an effective youth sports sponsorship package proposal?

Having a great sponsorship package is only half of the equation. You also need to know who you’re pitching to and what’s most likely to make them say yes.

Follow these steps to nail your sponsorship ask:

Step 1: Know your audience

Before reaching out to potential sponsors, do a little homework on what they care about. Does the local gym promote youth fitness? They’d probably love supporting a team that keeps kids active. Is the go-to restaurant in town always posting about community events? They might be a perfect fit.

Show how supporting your team helps them meet their own goals. With this approach, you’re more likely to get businesses in your corner.

Step 2: Build a compelling package and place it on your website

Group your sponsorship tiers with clear visuals that show exactly what sponsors get. Include photos from past events, team action shots, and mockups of logo placements.

Add a dedicated sponsor section to your team website so businesses can easily find details, download your sponsorship packet, and reach out. Businesses are more likely to contact you when everything’s easy to browse online.

Step 3: Personalize and deliver

It’s tempting to send the same email to every potential sponsor, but a little personalization goes a long way. Mention why your team is a good fit for their business and call out something you noticed about their role in the local community.

Whether you deliver your pitch in person, via email, or by phone, keep it professional and enthusiastic. Show you’ve put real thought into the partnership.

Step 4: Collect youth sports sponsorship payments online

Once a sponsor says yes, make it simple for them to follow through. Offer online payment options so they can pay by credit or debit card — no extra phone calls or check pickups required.

Jersey Watch’s online registration feature makes this easy. You can collect sponsorship payments just like player registrations, all in one system that keeps everything organized.

Collect sponsorship payments with Jersey Watch.

Tips for promoting your sports team sponsorship package

Now that you’ve built your sponsorship package, it’s time to spread the word. Use these simple tactics to promote your sponsorship opportunities and bring more local businesses on board:

Use social media to your advantage:

Post regularly about your sponsorship opportunities on team social channels.
Tag current or former sponsors to thank them and encourage reshares.
Always include a direct link to your sponsorship page so people can easily learn more or take action.

Create materials you can share:

Keep a short, benefits-focused handout ready that breaks down each sponsorship level.
Have a formal sponsorship proposal agreement template to make things official.
Use a sponsorship letter template when reaching out to new businesses.
Draft a separate donation letter for individuals or smaller contributions.

Keep your website updated:

Make sure your sponsorship page reflects current tiers, pricing, and availability.
Upload your handouts and letters as downloadable PDFs.

Remember: Your website is often the first place sponsors look for details!

Tell your story:

Share what makes your team special and how sponsors make an impact.
Post photos and testimonials that show how your team contributes to the community.
Help sponsors feel personally connected to the kids and families they’re supporting.

The more visible and compelling your sponsorship opportunities are, the more likely you are to build lasting partnerships and fund a strong season.

Attract more sponsors and build community support with Jersey Watch

Sponsorships are one of the best ways to fund your season, support your players, and connect with local businesses. With a well-structured package, clear benefits, and the right outreach, you’ll make it easier for sponsors to get on board and stay engaged.

Jersey Watch simplifies every step of the process. Create a professional team website with a dedicated sponsorship section, upload proposal materials, and collect payments online — right alongside player registration. You can even use built-in communication tools to follow up with potential sponsors or share team updates throughout the season.

Ready to make it easy for your community to sponsor youth sports programs? Get started with Jersey Watch today.