Faith & community · Sales Roleplay
How to ask a local business for sponsorship: practice asking Ed for $1,500
Ask the owner or manager in person, keep it short, and make it a business case: who will see their name, how many people, where, and two or three sponsor levels with a clear price and a deadline. If they say no, ask for a smaller level, an in-kind donation, or when to come back. Rehearse the ask with Ed Kowalski, a hardware store owner who gets asked for money every week.
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Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- You're on a nonprofit team and need to ask a local store owner for $1,500.
- You run a booster club or PTO and have to make cold calls for a 5K.
- You've been told 'we already gave' and didn't know what to say next.
- You want to turn a donation ask into a business case before the real call.
What happens
How a session goes
- You start the conversation. Ed, a 3D face with a voice, answers as a hardware store owner who gets asked for money every week.
- Ed pushes back with his real objection and a price-focused style. He might say he already gave to the school fundraiser.
- The call ends with Ed committing to a next step, giving a conditional next step, or saying no with the real reason.
Real lines from a test session
What Ed Kowalski said in a test session
“Look, I get calls like this almost every week. … What makes this 5K different from the other dozen things people want my logo on?”
“Six hundred shirts and a booth sounds fine, but you never asked what I need.”
“My real problem is we already gave to the school fundraiser this year, so the budget for any other charity is tapped out.”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
You go first
Ways to open
- “Hi, are you Ed? I'm with the food bank 5K. Do you have two minutes?”
- “We've got 600 runners from this neighborhood coming in May, and I'd love your logo on their shirts.”
- “I know you get asked a lot. I'm not here for a donation, I'm here with an ad that does some good.”
Example first lines to adapt. Fill in the brackets with your own details.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like for Sponsoring a Charity 5K
What went well: You acknowledged Ed's time and began to pivot from a logo handout to exposure, which is a better angle than a guilt trip.
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- You respect his time and ask what he needs before you pitch.
- You frame the $1,500 as a business case: 600 local runners and booth traffic.
- You offer a tiered ask, so he can say a smaller yes instead of no.
- You handle 'we already gave' gracefully and leave with a clear next step.
Scored on:
- Discovery
- Objection handling
- Value framing
- Next step
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “I know you get asked a lot, but this is for a really good cause.”
Better: “I know you get asked a lot. I'm not here for a donation, I'm here with an ad that does some good.”
Guilt trips get penalized. Lead with what's in it for the store.
Weak: “Can you sponsor us for $1,500?”
Better: “For $1,500 your logo goes on 600 shirts and you get a booth at the finish line. Does that sound like something you'd consider?”
A tiered ask with clear value beats a flat request.
Weak: “We already have a lot of sponsors, but we'd love your support.”
Better: “We have 600 runners from this neighborhood coming in May. Your logo on their shirts puts your store in front of local families.”
Talk about the store's benefit, not your need.
Weak: “So, can I put you down for something?”
Better: “Could we schedule a quick follow-up next week to confirm the details?”
A clear next step is rewarded. Vague endings lose points.
Ask a Local Business to Sponsor Your Charity 5K: start talking in a few seconds. Your own side stays yours to fill in.
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Your sales roleplay practice plan
- Discover the buyer’s problem
- Handle the real objection
- Agree a specific next step
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
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FAQ
Questions about Sponsoring a Charity 5K
Who is Ed and why does he push back?
Ed Kowalski is a hardware store owner, about 40, who gets asked for money every week. He pushes back with 'we already gave to the school fundraiser this year.' He's not rude, just price-focused. Your job is to turn his objection into a business case. Try it free →
What counts as a good next step with Ed?
A good next step is a yes, a smaller yes, or a date. For example, Ed might agree to a smaller sponsorship, or ask you to follow up next week. The scorer rewards a clear next step, so don't leave without one. Try it free →
What should a sponsorship request include?
The event or cause in one sentence, who attends and how many, what the sponsor gets at each level (logo on shirts, a booth, a social post, a thank-you at the event), the price of each level, and the date you need an answer. Bring it on one page so the owner can say yes on the spot. Try it free →
How do I follow up if a business doesn't answer?
Follow up once by phone or in person about a week later, mention the deadline, and offer the smallest level as an easy yes. If the answer is still no, thank them and ask whether a different time of year works better, so the door stays open for next season. Try it free →
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