COSPONSORSHIP
“One
is educated when one knows how to find out what one doesn’t know.”
– Georg Simmel
Most people will agree
that running a student organization can be a very demanding and challenging
responsibility. One of the most frustrating aspects is creating the
program of your dreams only to find you do not have the funding or resources
available to carry out the event. But alas, if the money and means are
not there, there is not much you can do, right? Wrong! Take a moment
to pull out your list of student organizations that are registered with
the University of Illinois. Have you ever thought about asking one of
them to cosponsor an event?
Cosponsorships between
student organizations involves joint participation in the production
of a program or event. The benefits associated with cosponsorships are
many: additional funding, enhanced creativity, increased credibility,
attraction of a more diverse audience, greater promotional capabilities
– to name just a few. The following are a few details of the benefits
of cosponsorship:
-
Staffing.
When the work associated with the program can be divided between two
or more groups of people, this means less of a burden on everyone.
Just think: twice as many people to transport supplies, sell tickets,
set up or take down equipment, usher guests and every other aspect
of program planning you can generate. Wouldn’t it be nice to
sponsor a huge event without letting your homework or social life
suffer?
-
Diverse
programming. With a variety of people on the planning committee, you
will be able to develop a more diverse program reaching a larger number
of people. By cosponsoring activities with other groups you promote
teamwork, develop a sense of community and create programs that will
reach a larger portion of the campus population.
-
Public
image. Cosponsoring allows you to create more programs than if you
were to do them alone because you have additional help and resources.
By getting your group’s name out more, you are creating a positive
image in the campus community. This may help with gaining additional
funding, recruiting new members and other side effects that you weren’t
even expecting!
-
Money.
An added benefit of cosponsorships is the opportunity for increased
funding. When groups combine funds, the chances of securing a major
entertainer or program are increased. This sharing of monetary responsibility
also reduces any possible loss by dividing the weight between more
than one group.
-
Whole
better than part. If you’re a psychology buff, you might remember
the implications of Gestalt psychology: the whole is greater than
the sum of the parts. Applying this to student organizations, it means
that groups working together to create programs can lead to better
results than if each group worked separately on its own individual
programs. Cosponsoring allows you to meet your organizational goals
while also promoting the goals of the other group(s). The process
can lead to heightened energy and creativity and encourages further
growth and development.
-
Personal
development. Cosponsoring allows the people involved to develop a
number of skills that will help them throughout life, such as: delegation,
goal setting, motivation, team building and meeting deadlines. This
experience can also increase the understanding of cultural backgrounds,
gender relations and so forth.
While there are a great many benefits involved in cosponsoring events,
the process can entail some disadvantages also. Don’t let these
deter you from cosponsoring events, but rather keep them in mind and
prepare for them so you know what to do should they occur.
-
Power
structure. One group involved in the cosponsored event may have more
money or experience than the other(s), which might cause them to assume
a position of power. Such situations can result in an atmosphere of
resentment or distrust. Before embarking on the cosponsorship journey,
consider how you will handle the situation if one group tries to dominate
or exhibit an aura of superiority.
-
Deciding
a program. Each group involved in planning the event may have different
goals and objectives for which to strive. As you might guess, your
group’s goals may be different than your cosponsor’s. To
avoid tension, hold a meeting at the start to document the goals of
all groups involved. Then, make a commitment to each other to work
towards achieving all of them.
-
Different
meanings of cosponsorship. The word “cosponsor” does not
have one meaning – there are a variety of meanings depending
on the situation. Your interpretation may involve helping in all phases
of planning and production, whereas your cosponsor may think it means
giving money so it can have its name included in the advertisements.
When you meet to decide your goals, discuss your expectations as well
and write them down. A brief discussion at the start can save a lot
of headaches at the end.
When you begin experimenting
with cosponsorships, start with programs that are easy to coordinate.
Once you develop an understanding of the process and how other groups
operate, you will be better prepared to tackle larger, more complex
programs.
Reference:
Cooper,
J.E. & Porter, B.E. (1991). Cosponsorships: Bridging the gap among
student organizations. Campus Activities Programming, 23, pp. 47-51.
|