Gala Sponsorship Levels and Example Pricing
| Level | How many | What it commonly includes | Example range (varies by gala) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presenting sponsor | 1 | Name with the gala name on invitations, program cover, slides and website, remarks from the stage, two premium tables | $10,000 to $100,000 or more |
| Dinner sponsor | 1 | Name on menu cards and the dinner announcement, a premium table | $5,000 to $25,000 |
| Cocktail hour or reception sponsor | 1 | Signs at the reception, name on bar napkins or a signature drink, a table | $3,000 to $15,000 |
| Wine or bar sponsor | 1 | Name on wine cards and bar signs, the toast announced in their name | $2,500 to $15,000 |
| Auction or paddle raise sponsor | 1 | Named paddle raise or auction, name on bid sheets, paddles or the auction screen, a table | $2,500 to $20,000 |
| Entertainment sponsor | 1 | Band, DJ or performer introduced in their name, a table | $2,500 to $15,000 |
| Valet sponsor | 1 | Signs at the valet stand, a card in every car on the way home | $1,000 to $7,500 |
| Table sponsor | As many as the room holds | A table of 8 or 10 seats, name on the table sign, program and slides | $1,000 to $10,000 per table |
| Program ad | As many pages as you print | Full, half or quarter page ad in the printed program | $100 to $2,500 per ad |
| In-kind sponsor | As needed | Wine, flowers, printing, AV or auction items, recognized at a level you agree | Valued case by case |
Each step up should add a better table and a moment the room notices: the presenting sponsor speaks, the wine sponsor gets the toast, the paddle raise sponsor's name is on the screen when the room gives. For tier structure in general, see event sponsorship levels, and for the rest of the evening, see how to plan a gala.
What Each Package Includes: Named Sponsorships, Tables and Ads
Gala sponsors buy two things: seats for their guests and recognition in front of the room. Write down exactly how many seats, where the table sits and when the sponsor is named, so the sponsor knows what they bought and your run of show includes it.
| Package | Example deliverables | Good fit for | What to agree in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presenting | Name with the gala, remarks from the stage, two tables, logo everywhere | Bank, health system, major local employer | Length of remarks, logo sizes, exclusivity category |
| Dinner | Menu cards, dinner announcement, premium table | Restaurant group, law firm, insurer | Menu card proof and when the announcement happens |
| Cocktail hour and wine | Bar signs, signature drink, wine cards, toast | Wine shop, distributor, private bank | Who supplies product, and alcohol service rules |
| Auction or paddle raise | Named paddle raise, logo on paddles and auction screen | Wealth adviser, real estate firm | That the sponsor name doesn't change who the gift is from |
| Entertainment and valet | Introduction of the band, valet signs, cards in cars | Dealership, hotel, local brand | Sign placement and what goes in the cars |
| Table of 8 or 10 | Seats, table sign, program and slide listing | Any company hosting staff or clients | Seat count, table location and guest names deadline |
| Program ad | Ad page in the printed program | Any local business or family | Ad size, file format and print deadline |
| In-kind | Recognition at an agreed level | Florist, printer, winery, AV company | Fair value of the gift and how it's recognized |
How to Price Gala Sponsorship Packages and Tables
There's no standard price list for gala sponsorships. Most galas start from the cost per seat, then add the value of recognition and the share of the evening's fundraising goal sponsors should cover. The steps below are a rule of thumb, not a formula.
- 1
Start from your cost per seat
Divide the venue, food, beverage, AV and decor by the number of guests to get your cost per seat. A table sponsorship should cover its seats and leave a clear gift on top.
- 2
Set a sponsorship goal
Decide how much of the fundraising goal sponsorships should cover, so ticket sales, the auction and the paddle raise carry the rest.
- 3
Anchor the top and step down
Price the presenting sponsor first, then the named moments (dinner, wine, paddle raise), then tables and ads, so each step adds visible recognition.
- 4
Check your donor history
Use what each sponsor gave last year, and what similar organizations in your city charge, as your check. Our how to price sponsorship packages guide walks through it.
- 5
Cap the inventory
One sponsor per named moment, and a fixed number of tables near the stage. When premium tables are gone, they're gone, which helps close sponsors early.
- Seats: table of 8 or 10, how many tables, and where they sit in the room
- Guest names: deadline for the sponsor's guest list and dietary needs
- Recognition: invitations, program, slides, signs, website and stage mentions, by level
- Program ad: size, file format and deadline
- Named moment: what the sponsor's name is attached to, and the script
- In-kind: who sets the value, and how it's recognized
- Acknowledgment: when the sponsor gets a receipt or acknowledgment letter, and who writes it
Copy-Ready Gala Sponsorship Package Sheet
Send this one-page sheet with your sponsor letter, or paste it into your sponsorship page. Replace the bracketed text, delete the levels you don't offer and keep the deadlines. For the cover letter, adapt our sponsorship letter template, and for the printed program that lists sponsors, see the gala program template.
Fulfillment Checklist and Common Mistakes
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| When the deal closes | Send the confirmation with seats, recognition, deadlines and the invoice |
| Before invitations print | Collect presenting and named sponsor logos and send invitation proofs |
| Ad and logo deadline | Collect program ads and logos, and proof the program and slides |
| Two weeks before | Collect guest names and dietary needs, and place sponsor tables on the room plan |
| Run of show | Write every sponsor mention, toast and paddle raise line into the script |
| Gala night | Check table signs, photograph each sponsor's table and named moment, and greet sponsors at arrival |
| After the gala | Send thank you notes, acknowledgment letters and a recap with photos and the amount raised, plus the offer to renew |
- Promising a table location before the room plan is set
- Selling the paddle raise sponsorship as if it changes who gets credit for the gifts
- Leaving the toast or sponsor thank yous out of the emcee's script
- No deadline for guest names, so tables are half empty or overfull
- Telling sponsors their payment is fully deductible without checking with a tax advisor
For the script, see the gala speech template and the sponsor thank you speech. When named sponsorships, tables and ads outgrow a spreadsheet, sponsorship sales software keeps them in one place, and the sponsorship recap report helps you renew.