How to Get Sponsors for Your College Event

Throwing an event in college is expensive. Whether it's a fraternity formal, a sorority philanthropy, a cultural org showcase, or just a huge campus-wide concert — the costs add up fast. The good news? Brands are actively looking to sponsor student events.

In fact, Gen Z controls over $360 billion in spending power, and companies from Celsius to Raising Cane's are pouring money into the campus market. If your student organization knows how to package your event and pitch it, you can unlock free food, drinks, merch, and even cash sponsorships.

This guide breaks down exactly how to do it step by step — the same process hundreds of student orgs are already using on CampusLink.

Why Do Brands Sponsor College Events?

Before we get into the "how," it's important to understand the "why."

• Access to Gen Z: College students are the hardest demographic for brands to reach. Your event is their direct line in.
• Word-of-Mouth Power: One night at a fraternity party or club showcase can put a brand into the hands of hundreds of students.
• Loyalty Building: Students often stick with the brands they try in college for years after graduation.

If you can show a brand that your event has reach, relevance, and good vibes — you're already halfway there.

Step 1: Build Your Sponsorship Package

You don't need a 20-page deck. But you do need a clean, simple way to show:

• What your org is (size, type, who you reach)
• What the event is (theme, date, expected attendance)
• Why it matters (cause, tradition, or culture on campus)
• What you can offer brands (logo placement, table setup, social media shoutouts, exclusive pouring rights, etc.)

👉 Pro tip: Keep it visual. One-pagers with photos from past events work best.

Step 2: Find the Right Brands

Not every brand is going to care about your event. Focus on companies that:

• Already target students (CPG drinks, food chains, apps, gyms, lifestyle brands)
• Have campus ambassador programs
• Are local to your city and want more exposure on campus

Some common categories:

• Beverages: Celsius, Liquid IV, Red Bull, Yerba Mate brands
• Food: Chipotle, Raising Cane's, Insomnia Cookies, Wingstop
• Apps: Uber Eats, Bumble, Tinder, Stimi Games
• Fitness & Lifestyle: Gymshark, Alani Nu, Whoop

Step 3: Craft the Outreach Message

Most students overthink this. The pitch should be short, clear, and friendly.

Example template:

Step 4: Negotiate Deliverables

When a brand shows interest, you'll usually negotiate two things:

1. What they provide (cases of drinks, catering, cash budget, merch)
2. What you provide (event access, social media posts, logo placement, "exclusive category rights")

💡 Rule of thumb: Brands care about reach. If you can show them that 300+ students will engage with their product in a single night, they'll be more generous.

Step 5: Deliver & Report Back

The worst mistake student orgs make is taking the free stuff and ghosting. Instead:

• Take photos of the brand at your event.
• Post them on your org's social channels.
• Send a thank-you recap afterward:
  • Attendance numbers
  • Photos of students engaging with the brand
  • Any social posts or media coverage

This makes it 10x more likely the brand will sponsor you again.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Asking for too much money upfront: Start with free product, then build toward paid.
• Not matching the vibe: A bank doesn't want to sponsor a rager. A seltzer brand does.
• Being unprofessional: Ghosting emails, missing deadlines, or not delivering promised exposure will kill future deals.

Real Examples of College Sponsorships

• Celsius x USC Sororities: Free cases for philanthropy events.
• Insomnia Cookies x UCSB Orgs: Late-night cookie drops with brand reps.
• Raising Cane's x Greek Life: Catering trays for philanthropy weeks.
• Liquid IV x Club Sports: Hydration packs for tournaments.

The Easy Way: CampusLink

You can cold email brands one by one. But most students don't have the time.

That's why we built CampusLink:

• 100+ brands already on the platform.
• 300+ student orgs using it to get free product, funding, and brand deals.
• Free to sign up as a student organization.

Instead of sending 50 emails and hoping for replies, you just create a profile — and brands can apply to sponsor you.

Final Thoughts

Getting sponsors for your college events isn't impossible — you just need the right system. Start small, keep it professional, and build long-term relationships.

Follow the steps above, and you'll be surprised how quickly your events start filling up with free food, drinks, and even cash funding.

👉 Ready to get started? Sign up on CampusLink today.