[zayd.enam]

Hi,

I'm new to entrepreneurism and I recently started a non-profit organization.

www .theentrepreneurs. org

We basically invest into small businesses and, if necessary, manage them. What I need assistance in is gathering sponsors and people willing to advertise on my businesses.

One example of a business I'm investing in is a corn hawker and I hit about 2000 10-16 year olds everyday from Monday-Friday. I'm sure somebody would be interested in that. But how do I approach companies and ask them to either:

1) Sponsor or 2) Buy ad space or 3) Donate to us.

Any tips on on the process?

Thanks,

Zayd

[akula]

sure..i kind of understand the question
the answer is: it's pretty complicated

selling ads/sponsorships or pitching for grants/donations is pretty much like selling any other product...the process is completed in three steps:

1. surveys are carried out to determine customer needs/expectations
2. the survey data is used to formulate a marketing mix/competitive strategy
3. the strategy is executed to deliver the product to the list of prospects through the use of resource planning and management systems that reinforce the achievement of sale targets

umm...that said I'm pretty certain that you haven't thought out your "non for profit venture capital" concept ( I mean, honestly, wtf), or that you have any idea what you're doing..so I don't see a reason for this conversation

i'd encourage you to speak to the guys at VentureWoods and ask them for advice. Alok Mittal, in particular...Alok is much smarter than I am, so he just might "get it"

[rogercbryan]

Originally Posted by zayd.enam

Hi,

I'm new to entrepreneurism and I recently started a non-profit organization.

www .theentrepreneurs. org

We basically invest into small businesses and, if necessary, manage them. What I need assistance in is gathering sponsors and people willing to advertise on my businesses.

One example of a business I'm investing in is a corn hawker and I hit about 2000 10-16 year olds everyday from Monday-Friday. I'm sure somebody would be interested in that. But how do I approach companies and ask them to either:

1) Sponsor or 2) Buy ad space or 3) Donate to us.

Any tips on on the process?

Thanks,

Zayd

When you say you started a non-profit... what country are you in and what types of licenses did you get? I'm in the non-profit fundraising business and I'd love to talk to you more....as long as you have the proper licensing.

[pentupentropy]

perhaps you should look for a young entrepreneur looking to start a marketing firm =)

[zayd.enam]

I'm based in Pakistan, over here the the license I have is for a non-profit, welfare proprietorship. It simplifies the whole company process and I don't need an accountant or lawyer (which is necessary for other licenses).

The whole business idea thing may seem alien in the US. Over here in Pakistan their is a lot of potential for businesses with very low capital. I mean very low, around 50 dollars. I have a fair sketch of what I want to, how I'm going to do it and how feasible it's going to be.

rogercbryan, I'd like to talk to you (I need all the help I can get). I can verify my license, but let me warn you in Pakistan it's painfully easy to have a corrupt company. (I'm not saying that I'm corrupt, though ).