Corporate sponsorship

Standing together is the only way that we can make a difference.
I spent a lot of time in the corporate world in the past. When they evaluate a project for sponsorship, it is not about the project as much as it is what is it that the company can make out of it. Most of the sponsorship goes to advertising opportunities and the possible audience that might be reached for the least funds.
Nature and the environment is sometimes the last projects that companies would like to sponsor as the exposure possibilities are very limited. The animals can not be branded with the sponsors logos, so what would be the point of sponsoring projects that attempt to save endangered animals or even the environment.
Sometimes corporate's do sponsor conservation projects, but it would seem that the only time they do things like this is when there are proposals of making documentaries about the project that can be sold to networks, local and international, to give the sponsor the maximum exposure for their money.

Please note that the photo does not infer or imply anything, it is just an example.

Since 2012 I have been involved in the efforts to obtain sponsorship for a conservation project. Proposal letters have been sent out, business plans have been sent out, even visited a couple of head offices to hand in the proposal and business plans. Either no replies were received or "our funds for the next couple of years are already allocated" replies were received.

When I managed to get a foot in the door to see the relevant people, they viewed the business plan as well as the proposal and the reply was always "we can not see the commercial benefit for the company for the amount of money you request"

When asked if these companies can make donations towards the project instead of a sponsorship, the answer is always no due to the fact that it is not an organization registered in the USA.

In some instances, other organizations that were registered in the USA were approached to team up with the project in order to benefit both organizations, most of these organizations turned us down without even viewing our proposal, It would seem that some of these organizations fear losing their backing to a project that might put the organization out of the limelight in the USA and their support base.

Conclusion to the whole experience: Corporate's want the biggest bang for their buck and the cause is not truly important to them. They want the maximum benefit and returns on the "investment" that they make. It would seem that some companies are hesitant to even get involved with conservation projects to protect the future of their environment because it might not look good on the balance sheet.

You be the judge.