Hospital foundations raised an average of $7.7 million in net fundraising revenue in 2024. Galas and other fundraising events played a pivotal role, with some hospital foundations raising millions at just one gala alone.

Sponsorships are the key to any event’s success, providing up to half of a gala’s operational expenses. But securing these partnerships requires more than sending mass emails and generic proposals to businesses in your region. You need an intentional strategy, thoughtful outreach, and a clear understanding of why businesses sponsor events in the first place.  

This post breaks down the most effective ways to attract high-value gala sponsorships, and how Almabase’s event and data automation tools streamline sponsor management and eliminate manual work.

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5 Ways to Attract More Gala Sponsors 

1) Target Companies Most Likely to Say Yes  

Start with companies whose business goals align with your audience. Prioritize those that sponsor other community events, such as parades, golf tournaments, galas, health fairs, summer concerts, and walks or races. 

Tap board members, physicians, executives, and volunteers for warm leads. Warm intros convert much better than cold asks.

Companies more likely to say yes include:

• Health and wellness–aligned organizations
• Employers with large local workforces
• Companies offering matching-gift or volunteer programs
• Vendors that service your hospital

Also, reach out to businesses that have supported your foundation in the past, and ask them to increase their support.  

2) Send Personalized Outreach to Key Decision-Makers  

Identify the right leaders in marketing, brand, or business development and ask board members or executives for warm introductions whenever possible.

Reference their recent community involvement or past sponsorships to show how their values align with your mission, and provide a brief overview of your foundation and event audience.

Close with a simple next step: a short conversation to review sponsorship levels for gala participation and the options that best match their goals. Have a hospital executive co-sign the email to elevate your outreach.  

Hi {{First Name}},

I am writing on behalf of [Foundation Name], which raises money to support the life-saving mission of [Hospital Name]. We have so much respect for [Name of Company]’s longtime support of local community initiatives, including your recent sponsorship of [INSERT INFO HERE].  
Your values align perfectly with our mission to provide compassionate healthcare to families throughout our region. That’s why I’m reaching out to ask if you’d join us as a corporate sponsor for our [NAME & DATE OF EVENT].

This popular fundraising event attracts [NUMBER] residents and business leaders to support innovative healthcare in our community. Our goal is to raise [DOLLAR AMOUNT] to fund [PROJECT]. 

Your sponsorship would provide high-visibility and recognition before and during the event, including potential mention in local media advertisements during [NUMBER] weeks/months of promotion. 

Can we schedule a brief 15-minute call to discuss the possibilities? 

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a difference in our community.

Sincerely,
NAME
ORGANIZATION 

3) Communicate the Business Value of Corporate Event Sponsorship  

Share concrete business benefits, such as logo placement, signage, digital exposure, program ads, and opportunities to engage directly with attendees. Provide brief details that help companies justify the spend and understand your sponsorship levels for gala packages:

• Audience size and demographics
• Digital and social reach
• Examples of past recognition and sponsor activations

This elevates your CTA beyond ‘support our mission’ toward the tangible marketing value they’ll receive as gala sponsors, which is essential in any corporate event sponsorship decision.

4) Know How to Thank Gala Sponsors Effectively

Thank each sponsor during the event, in follow-up donor communications, on your website, and across your social media channels.  

Send a personalized thank-you note within a few days after the event. Reference their specific contribution and show their impact with a short story, quote, or examples of the specific programs or people they supported.

5) Provide Post-Event ROI Reporting

Send a report within a week that includes total attendance, audience demographics, and every place their logo appeared, along with photos of signage and digital placements.

Add key performance numbers, such as social reach, email impressions, website traffic, on-site engagement highlights, and any notable feedback. If recognition moments or fundraising results were part of the event, summarize them.

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How Almabase Streamlines Your Events and Fundraising Strategy

Almabase brings all your healthcare fundraising events into one connected platform that syncs directly with Raiser’s Edge NXT, reducing manual work and keeping every team aligned.

Manage every event from one integrated workspace.

Centralize event metrics, attendee engagement, and sponsor activity so fundraising, marketing, and gift officers can collaborate more efficiently and act on complete data.

Market events with consistent, high-quality outreach.‍

Use branded event pages, automated reminders, and targeted email workflows to promote events without juggling multiple tools or teams.

Eliminate fragmented processes with real-time CRM syncing.‍

Sync attendance, engagement, giving data, and activity into Raiser’s Edge NXT. Provide complete, accurate ROI without manual entry.

Automate communication throughout the event lifecycle.‍

Set reminders, deliverable deadlines, staff updates, thank-you messages, and post-event recaps automatically. Consistent communication creates a polished sponsor experience.

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About the author

Wendy Johnson brings over 20 years of expertise in content strategy and digital marketing to help healthcare foundations and mission-driven nonprofits connect deeply with their audiences. Her unique approach blends behavioral psychology, SEO, and strategic messaging to build high-impact campaigns that drive donor conversions and boost engagement. Having partnered with major organizations like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Geisinger Health Foundation to simplify complex issues and inspire action.