Find your sponsors

Sponsors don't find a campaign on their own. They come from you sharing it, and the people who already know you are the fastest yes. Work down this page in order.

01 Be sure of your prices and terms

You set the prices and what every sponsor gets. Before you share, make sure you're confident in both.

/Your prices are yours. Change the price of any open spot any time in your campaign editor: lower it if spots aren't moving, raise it as they sell and demand grows.
/So is what sponsors get. We start you with a few defaults, like a thank-you story and a tag in your race recap. Under What sponsors get in your editor, add more (a dedicated post, race-day photos they can use, a Strava mention) or write something of your own.
/Once a sponsor pays, it's set. They get exactly the price and the perks your page showed when they paid, so only promise what you'll deliver.
/You can always say no. Decline any sponsor who doesn't fit who you are or what you stand for, from your campaign's Sponsors page. They're refunded in full and the spot reopens.

02 Start with people who know you

Your first sponsor is the hardest one, and it usually comes from someone who already wants you to win.

/Family and close friends. Fans can sponsor too: their name, an inside joke or a fun design instead of a logo.
/Your training crew. Your gym, run club, team, coach and training partners.
/Coworkers and your boss. Your company's logo on you on race day is easy marketing for them.
/Message them one by one. A personal text gets an answer. A group post gets scrolled past.
/Thank every sponsor in public. Your share kit makes a thank-you image with their name on it, and the next person sees you're already backed.

03 Then the businesses that know you

A business that knows your name will read your message. Write down ten before you look anywhere else.

/Where you spend your money. Your gym, your morning coffee spot, your barber, your meal prep.
/Who keeps you racing. Your physical therapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, run store or bike shop.
/People you've worked with. Past clients and employers, brands you've worked with before, friends who own a business.
/Ask in person when you can. Pull up your campaign on your phone at the counter. A face is harder to say no to than an email.

04 Post it everywhere you're followed

Your share kit has Story and feed images with your QR code on them, and they update as spots sell. Tap Share on your campaign page to post one.

/Post the day it goes live, then again each time a spot sells.
/Put your campaign link in your bio until race day.
/Tag the race and use its hashtag. Brands that follow the race will see it.
/Tag the businesses you'd love on your kit. It's a friendly nudge, not a cold pitch.
/Count down to race day. "10 days out, 2 spots left" gives people a reason to act now.

05 Find brands around your race

Brands that already care about your race are the easiest strangers to pitch. Twenty minutes of research finds most of them.

/The race's sponsors or partners page. Those brands already pay to be part of this race.
/The expo vendor list. Every vendor there wants racers to see them.
/Last year's race photos. Scroll the race's Instagram, its tagged posts and its location tag, and note every brand you see on a racer or a banner.
/Racing out of town? Search Google Maps in the race city for gyms, run stores, physical therapy, recovery and supplement shops. Racers coming to town are their customers.
/Who already backs athletes. See the businesses on our Sponsors Wall.
/Keep a short list: name, Instagram, email and why they fit. Ten good ones beat fifty random ones.

06 What to say

Short, personal, with your link. Copy one and make it yours.

/To friends and family: "Hey! I'm racing [race] on [date] and selling spots on me for race day to help cover it. You can put your name, a logo or something fun on me: [your link]. Even a share helps!"
/To a business you know: "Hi [name], it's [you] from [where they know you]. I'm racing [race] on [date] and I'd love to rep [business], with your logo on me in every race photo and a shoutout on my socials. Spots start at [$]: [your link]. Happy to answer anything!"
/To a brand you found: "Hi [brand] team, I'm [you], a [sport] athlete racing [race] on [date]. I saw you [support the race / are near the race]. I'd love to wear your logo on race day and post about you before and after. Here's my campaign: [your link]."
/DM or email, both work. Lots of small businesses answer Instagram DMs faster than email.

07 Follow up and keep going

/No answer in a week? Follow up once. "Just bumping this in case it got buried" is enough.
/Answer fast. A sponsor's question is a sale in progress. Sponsors can message you right on FitSponsor, in your inbox.
/A no today isn't a no forever. Ask if you can send them your next race.

08 What FitSponsor does for you

Our main goal is to get you sponsored, and we're here to help any way we can. We pitch businesses near your race, share and feature campaigns on our pages, and answer any question in your inbox. You'll see what we've done for yours in your campaign editor. But you lead the way, so start at the top of this page.

More resources

Your photosThe profile photo sponsors see first, and the body photos your spots sit on: how to shoot both with a phone.Temporary tattoosFour ways to put sponsor logos on your skin, and make them last the race.Race kitPrint on demand, transfers, embroidery and team kit: getting logos onto what you race in.Deliver and get paidFrom the first sale to money in your bank: proof, photos, timing, and what to do when things go wrong.