Sponsorship Resources Approach Materials | 2026 Season

OUR FUNDRAISING TARGET

TEAM FEES AND THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

Last year we raised $33,000, and we used every penny! This year we are seeking to raise a total of $45,000 (including the $20,000 from the Team Fee Fundraiser). You've probably noticed we work to include not only athletes in our events planning, but parents and siblings too! Running a mountain bike team of our size that includes families at events and activities is important for our program's health and longevity, but it carries significant cost. While $20,000 is a critical fundraising milestone that enables us to eliminate the annual Team Fees, it represents a bare bones amount that covers critical expenses only. This year we'll be focusing on raising the total $45,000 through sponsorship to strengthen our partnership with local businesses. Don't worry though, if we raise at least $20,000 we'll still be eliminating the Team Fees as we did last year--we just want to keep our foot on the gas until we raise $45,000! These donations pay for race day food and equipment, trailer maintenance, event costs (team building, GRiT events, end of year team recognition banquet), consumable items such as first aid kits, race nutrition, water bottles, electrolyte mixes, performance nutrition, athlete scholarships, loaner bikes, bookkeeping and legal fees, and remaining miscellaneous operating costs. 100% of the funds benefit the student athletes, and there are no salaries paid to the coaches or staff.

WHAT DO I GET FOR HELPING?

ELIMINATE YOUR TEAM FEES

If we collectively raise reach our Team Fee Fundraiser Target of $20,000, we'll be able to eliminate team fees for everyone on the team! Thats a savings of about ($125 savings each), but its going to take everyone to make this happen, so be sure to think of businesses you can reach out to!

WAIVE 100% OF YOUR SEASON FEES

You can reduce or eliminate entirely your personal Team Fees, Kit Fees, and NICA Registration fees if you raise the following aggregate amounts of money by soliciting businesses or private parties for donations:

• $10,000: Team, kit, and NICA registration fees waived for (2) student athletes ($1,400 value).
• $5,000: Team, kit, and NICA registration fees will be waived for (1) student athlete ($700 value).
• $3,000: Team, and kit fees waived for (1) student athlete ($340 value).
• $1,000: Team Fee waived for (1) student athlete ($125 value).

HOW TO FIND SPONSORS

TYPES OF BUSINESSES TO APPROACH

There is no limit to the type of businesses that can sponsor the Biking Vikings, but we do ask that do please do not solicit donations from any of our local bike shops. We have a longstanding relationship with Bike Peddler (formerly Timpanoogos Cyclery) that we wish to respect and maintain. Examples of other business types we've had in the past include payment services providers, car washes, construction contractors, and many other businesses not connected in any direct way to mountain biking that have donated to the Biking Vikings.

• Parents can check with their employer first! They often have programs or incentives that are designed to help employees provide benefits to local causes or charities. You never know until you ask!
• You're most likely to have success by seeking donations from businesses with whom you have a personal connection to the business owner.
• Can't think of anybody you know? Look for local businesses that are adjacent to wellness, youth sports, or outdoor goods, i.e. orthodontists, pediatricians, supplement producers, etc. They don't have to be within Pleasant Grove or Lindon, they can be anywhere!
• The business has comfortable operating margins. Banks, construction contractors, car wash services, storage units, real estate services, car dealers, and software companies often have higher operating margins than restaurants and store-front retailers, so you're likely to be more successful by looking for growing businesses.

WHO SHOULD I TALK TO AT THE BUSINESS?

Ask for the owner or the manager. You’ll need to speak with someone who is authorized to sign agreements for the business and make donations to 501-C3 organizations.

WHAT TO SAY

USE OUR SCRIPTS

Click the button below to get the scirpts. Be sure to scroll through the tabs for various formats such as In-Person, Phone Call, Text, & Email. But the most important thing is to just be yourself! They respect the fact that you’re there–and are brave enough to ask them for a donation! Introduce yourself and tell them about your experience with the Biking Vikings over the years. Next, share and review the Sponsorship Prospectus with them, and highlight the benefits of the various Gold, Silver, and Bronze packages. Be sure they understand that our packages help promote their business too in exchange for their sponsorship! We have nearly 500 hyper-local email subscribers and nearly 800 Instagram followers that receive our regular content--we obtained over 80,000 views last season on our Instagram channel! Be sure to share our Instagram channel with them so they can see examples of how we promote our sponsors.

IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF SPONSORS?

No! But there are limits to the number of Gold and Silver sponsors, which are limited to (5) each so that we can ensure they get premium representation on our kits and other marketing materials. We want to make sure our team shirts are clean and our premium packages are meaningful.

• Gold Sponsors $5,000 - Limit 5
• Silver Sponsors $3,000 - Limit 5
• Bronze Sponsors $1,000 - Unlimited

QUALIFIED DONATIONS

WHAT TYPE OF DONATIONS ARE ALLOWED?

Donors may enjoy the benefits of Sponsorship only if their donations of cash, goods, or services offset the team’s normal operating costs. Cash donations are the preferred and easiest way to offset operating costs, but certain goods or services that are typically planned expenses year over year may be considered as a cash-equivalent donation, subject to review and approval by the Coaches. Such donations of goods or services would be recognized as a form of revenue, and a donation receipt would be delivered to the local business. Typically accepted goods or services include consumable goods such as trail food, race food or event costs, legal services, bike mechanic services, etc. Business owners may contact coach@pgbikingvikings.com for specific questions on qualifying donations, or they may fill out the Sponsor Pledge Form and identify the goods or services they wish to deliver there, which will kick off the review process.

WHAT IF THEY WANT TO DONATE THEIR BRANDED MERCH?

Branded swag such as t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, or any other gift is a great marketing tool for local businesses to share their logo and give away items that may be of some value to our team, but it does not offset our typical planned operating costs. We are willing to coordinate with a business that expresses an interest in gifting swag or their branded merchandise to our team, but we would not classify the gift as a donation, which means they would not be recognized as a “Sponsor” and their gift would not be eligible to count toward reducing registration fees. Businesses interested in having their logo placed on a piece of swag and wish to be recognized as Sponsors to enjoy all of the benefits thereof are encouraged to elect the Gold Package, where we will place their logo on the team gift (i.e. a duffel bag, shirt, or other wearable item) to our student athletes.

HOW WE COLLECT

DO I NEED TO COLLECT MONEY OR HAVE THEM SIGN SOMETHING?

The Head Coaches will reach out to collect payment and get agreements signed. All you need to do is make sure they complete the online Sponsor Pledge Form (link below) where they’ll provide their contact information, business name, pledge amount, and list you as their contact so you get credit. Coaches will reach out to them and send the Donation Form or the Sponsor Agreement at a later date–typically within a week.

WHEN ARE DONATIONS DUE?

All payments are due on or before May 31, 2026 in order to give us time to add their logo to the kits, email templates, and other marketing materials.

COORDINATING CONTACT EFFORTS

ARE WE TRACKING WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED?

Due to logistical challenges new leads or contact attempts will not being tracked. We know this means that some businesses may receive multiple solicitations from the Biking Vikings. If you encounter that and the business owner expresses frustration or annoyance, please contact coach@pgbikingvikings.com and we can place them on a DO NOT CONTACT list that can be published if it becomes necessary.

WHO WILL CONTACT LAST YEAR'S SPONSORS?

Last year's sponsors are tracked on the sheet below. The benefitting athlete that secured them in the prior year will receive the first right of refusal to seek a renewal up until February 28, 2026, even if somebody else secures the pledged amount prior to that date. This means the waived fee credit will be given to the prior year's benefitting athlete up until that date irrespective of whoever secures the pledge renewal. After that date, if a pledge is not finalized by the prior year's benefitting athlete, it will be opened up to everyone on an equal first-pledged basis.

WHAT IF A PRIOR YEAR SPONSOR HAS A BENEFITTING ATHLETE THAT HAS GRADUATED?

If the prior year's benefitting athlete or family has graduated and will no longer participate with the Biking Vikings, that sponsor is available for contact, and the first individual to secure a renewed pledge for 2026 will receive fee waiver credit. Review the Prior Year Sponsor List for available sponsors.