What's the difference between a sponsor and a member?

As you might have noticed, things are getting a bit complicated as far as categories of supporters goes. First, members help us pay for the SMB event and sponsors, generally, contribute the money that the people at SMB raise for Pilot Butte.  Can you be both a member and a sponsor?  We do expect that to happen and maybe even quite a bit.

But, as we learned last year, it quickly becomes even more complicated.  Last year we hadn't even envisioned Event Support Sponsors until they started popping up.  These are businesses and people who help make the event better through some sort of contribution.  So, when Organic Coffee said they would supply coffee for the event, they became an event support sponsor.  When Jake's Diner gave us gift certificates to use as prizes, that fit in the same category.

This year we've already added two more categories.  "Other Event Sponsors" will help us put on other events besides SMB.  One of those events is in the works and several companies have been approached.  "PBSS Support Sponsors" help us with our needs as a nonprofit organization.  For example, we had a meeting with some local dignitaries and Longboard Louie's catered the function for free.  Kevin Poole Design is contributing free graphic design work on one of our major fundraising projects.  So they are also a PBSS Support Sponsor.

We always try to give recognition where it is due and there is absolutely no category that is more important than the other.  For example, the project the design company is helping us with will not only help us do good things for Pilot Butte, it should also bring in $1,000 or more per year without much effort.  If we get enough of this type of money, that could change the need for members to help us pay for the event.  More important, it can be money that we put directly into Pilot Butte beyond what we raise at SMB.

Can one company or individual fit into all categories?  We do expect that to happen and, when it does, you can bet we will be singing their praises.

It is great to know you have so much help and support coming from so many different directions.  It definitely helps you through some of the challenging experiences and it also makes everything you do so much easier to accomplish.  We hope that everyone who believes in what we are doing finds some way to support and thank the people and businesses that support us.