[Opera303]

I would like to get some feedback regarding the use of the 'Sponsor' option when linking a participant to an event profile. Currently my organization enters corporations/foundations that pay for their staff members to attend our events as 'Registrants' and then lists those attending as 'Guests'.
What are the benefits of using 'Sponsor' instead and how does this effect reports, lists, etc.?
Thank you.

[Melissa Siobhan]

I debate this myself and keep changing my mind. I was told by a consultant to use participant and just recently for our September gala decided to try using sponsor. I like being able to show sponsors very easily from the event module but adding their guests is a pain. What I do not like about sponsor is that you can only link add registrants to that sponsor - not guests - and you can't add them from the sponsorship record as you can add guests from a participant record.

Right now I do not know the names of the guests the sponsor is sending so I just am putting the corporate name in the last name and Guest 01, Guest 02, etc. in the first name to hold the spots and get me a count. I have always done this using registrant and guest and it was really easy to add guests. Now I need to add the guests as separate registrants and link them to the sponsor - not as easy.

[Opera303]

Sounds like some of the issues I ran into when testing out the use of 'Sponsor'.
Thanks for the insight.

[M.Harrison]

I use the event module for several different types of events - Gala, Golf Tournment, Luncheon, Tennis Event - and use the sponsor type for only event Sponsors such as Gold, Silver, etc. For companies who purchase tickets for their employees they are entered as Registrants. The basic rule is only those who buy a Sponsorship Level are Sponsors.

[Melissa Siobhan]

Actually, I believe that Sponsorship is only good for things such as walk-a-thons etc.

My gold sponsorships come with 20 tickets to the event but during gift entry I can not enter the 20 "guests" (which BB calls "registrants") from the sponsorship record. So I have to finish my batch with having added a sponsor with no registrants related to that sponosor yet. Then I have to go into the Event module and add in the registrants (providing I do not forget).

However, had I entered the Gold sponsor as a participant - right from batch when I create the participant record I can add the 20 "guests". Trust me - this is makes a big difference in DE time and accuracy.

[Elizabeth]

I agree with Melissa. It saves a lot of time to enter them as registrants instead of sponsors. You can still see the breakdown by ticket type (gold, silver, etc) in reports.

Liz

[Nina Williams]

Just back from time off so responding a bit late. I use Sponsors for those Corporations who donate money but are not sending anyone. i.e. A golf hole sponsor - they get a sign but not a player/foursome. As stated above for all types of sponsorship that include tickets, "You can still see the breakdown by ticket type (gold, silver, etc) in reports."

[Harriet]

We had the same struggle and settled on Participants rather than Sponsors for our Walkathon, for the reasons stated earlier by Melissa.

[Opera303]

Thank you for your responses. This has made it clear to me that I am not the only one who has had difficulty with the use of the 'Sponsor' option in the Event module.
I plan on making a suggestion to Blackbaud to either make it clearer how this option should be used or make adding guests to sponsors available.
Thanks again.