How can you fund your conference more effectively?

I've found it's about building relationships with your sponsors/funders. Get to know them. Meet with them when you are NOT asking for money. Say thank you - personally and publicly. Make it a win-win for all involved. One of my sponsors had just had a baby girl - I got a gift for the family. Small touches go a long way.

What can really help is to focus on dedicated sponsors per re-occurring event. This will help the sponsor expand his/her network in a planned way. I would really avoid demanding too much from the same sponsor(s) for very different events. Furthermore I would advice to keep the sponsor in the loop regarding the event, without going into the details of it. Of course showing some genuine appreciation regularly will help build durable win-win relations.

Securing adequate funding for a conference is crucial for its success. One effective approach is diversifying funding sources. This can be achieved through strategic sponsorships, where tailored packages attract businesses aligned with the event's theme. Additionally, curating topics for Panel Discussions and Keynote sessions can help in maximizing ticket sales which can bolster financial support.

This is a very important point: Organizers need to be able to formulate a strong "WHY" that is highly individual, i.e. may differ a lot from partner to partner. In order to do so, organizers need to have a deep understanding on the needs and strategic alignment of potential partners - and speak their language in order to communicate at eye level.

So true building relation definitely help and need to make sure to give feedback to our partner that how great event went and the success credit goes to them as well this will make them feel valued and they will be excited for future partnerships.

When seeking funders, the very first step is to build authentic, sincere, trusting relationships that are based on genuine interest. The money will follow if you are credible and reliable as a partner.

Diversifying your income streams is akin to building a robust financial foundation for your conference. Depending solely on external funding, such as sponsorships or grants, can leave your event vulnerable to fluctuations in the economy or changes in sponsor priorities. By spreading your income sources, you not only increase your financial stability but also gain more control over your conference's financial destiny.

I would add that despite the need to do fundraising, organizers will need to stay credible in order to sustain long term partnerships. If I see a conference agenda that exactly matches the corporate sponsors list I'm immediately pulled off - that basically means that the sponsors have bought themselves on stage as opposed to conference organizers very consciously curating the contant and speaker selection in order to ensure the highest event quality