The rise of women’s sports globally has had an impact on fans and consumers from the grassroots to the elite. This means it’s an excellent time for community clubs and leagues to take advantage when it comes to promoting existing or newly launched women’s teams and asking for support for their growth. It’s also a great opportunity to tap into younger generations that are interested in playing themselves or supporting their local club.  

Another aspect of the growth of women’s sports now compared to the past is it’s so much more readily accessible thanks to social media, online streaming, broadcast deals for elite teams and competitions, and more female athletes featured in ad campaigns. All of this contributes to the visibility of women’s sport which in turn encourages participation, engagement, consumer spending and growth in fandom. More money in women’s sports at a grassroots level results in an investment in club programs and hiring more or better coaching and development staff which in turn improves the product, and the cycle continues. 

Sponsoring women's sports can be a strategic decision for companies looking to connect with a diverse and engaged audience while promoting values of inclusivity and empowerment. It's not only a good business decision but also a way to contribute positively to the broader sports community. Other benefits include: 

• Growing audience
• Diverse demographics
• Positive Brand Image
• Alignment with corporate values
• Inspiration and role models
• Less saturated market
• Growth potential
   

Attracting the right sponsors is crucial for the success and sustainability of any event, organisation, or initiative. Here are several key reasons why it's important to focus on attracting sponsors that align with your goals and values:

1. Alignment of Values and Mission
2. Relevance to audience
3. Enhanced credibility and reputation
4. Increased support and resources
5. Targeted marketing and brand exposure
6. Long-term partnership potential
7. Sustainability and growth
8. Alignment of marketing activities

What to include:

• About our club/league
• Our Values
• Our Mission/Our Purpose
• Our Vision
• Partnership opportunities

Key additions that all club’s should consider calling out are:

Our Women’s Teams
Here you can list the teams your club has and the current pathway for women and girls (or what you aspire to have). This is also where you share the importance of having women’s and girls’ teams and what it means to the club and to the players. You can also talk about when the team(s) were established and the participation growth you’ve seen since it started. If you have metrics you can share, i.e., how many teams you started with and how many you have now, the number of players you have, any premierships won, etc.

Why sponsor women’s sport?
Here you can choose some of the benefits of sponsoring women’s sport that you’d like to highlight, just make sure that they’re relevant to your club/league and what you’re offering. For example, if you don’t live-stream any of your games, you wouldn’t include anything about the benefits of brand exposure for organisations via live-streaming.

Grants are a great way to raise money for your club or league. There are many women and girls-focused grants available now through local and state governments and sporting organisations. Read more about grants on the Club Help website here.