How ZipSprout brought an unexpected $1.5k to an event hosted by Inclusion Matters

Creating inclusivity

I’m Marci Moran, Sr. Vice President of Outreach & Events at Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration.

Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where children of all abilities are included, accepted, and celebrated. Our mission is to eliminate bias against children with disabilities through inclusive playgrounds and educational programs that foster understanding, friendship, and social inclusion — and unite children of all abilities through play.

Over the past 30 years, we have created 81 inclusive playgrounds across five continents, providing accessible spaces where children with and without disabilities can play together. Our award-winning education program, Together, We Are Able, promotes disability awareness, empathy, and inclusion in schools, with curriculum reaching 67 countries worldwide. We are also proud to hold Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), recognizing our commitment to advancing inclusion and the rights of children with disabilities on a global scale.

Based in Los Angeles, we primarily serve children with disabilities, their typically developing peers, families, educators, and underserved communities throughout Southern California. Through our educational programs, community outreach events, and partnerships, we also extend our impact nationally and internationally.

At the heart of everything we do is the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to play, belong, and be valued for who they are.

How do you typically raise money?

We raise funds through corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, individual donations, major gifts, special events, and in-kind contributions. Our signature fundraising events include our annual Run, Walk & Roll, Golf Challenge, Gala, and Legendary Bingo.

We also receive grants from foundations and corporations that provide critical funding for our educational programs, inclusive playground projects, and community outreach initiatives. Additionally, we engage corporate partners through employee volunteer opportunities, workplace giving, and program sponsorships.

What was your initial reaction when ZipSprout reached out to you?

When ZipSprout first contacted us, we were intrigued, but a little skeptical. We receive many unsolicited emails offering fundraising opportunities, and not all are legitimate or worthwhile. The idea that businesses would pay $500 to support our organization in exchange for featuring their logo and link on our website for a year seemed almost too good to be true.

We moved forward because it was a simple, low-risk opportunity to generate additional revenue without significant staff time or resource investment. As a small nonprofit, we always look for creative ways to bring in funding.

We didn’t need to do much internal selling. The arrangement was straightforward, involved no upfront costs, and offered a potential revenue stream from companies we might not otherwise reach. We just needed to ensure sponsors were appropriate for our organization and aligned with our values.

We’re glad we decided to try it!

What would you say to nonprofits that are skeptical like you were?

Our experience over several years shows ZipSprout is legitimate and has been a positive fundraising partner for our organization. We were initially skeptical, but the process has been straightforward, the sponsorships genuine, and we’ve received funding from businesses we likely would not have reached on our own.

For a small nonprofit with limited staff and resources, it’s an effortless way to generate additional revenue. There are no upfront costs, and the time commitment is minimal. Keep in mind that these are typically one-time sponsorships, so we wouldn’t recommend relying on them as a consistent revenue source.

My suggestion is to give it a try! We appreciate our relationship with ZipSprout and the additional support they bring to our mission. Every $500 sponsorship makes a difference, and those contributions add up.

What has your experience with ZipSprout been like?

Working with ZipSprout has been wonderful! Their team has been incredibly friendly, responsive, and supportive throughout our partnership, and the process has always been straightforward and easy to manage.

Typically, someone from their team calls or emails us with a prospective corporate sponsor. After we review and approve the company, ZipSprout presents our organization to their client as a potential sponsorship opportunity.

If the company agrees to sponsor us, ZipSprout sends us their logo, website link, and a short description of their business. We then promptly add their logo and link to both our event website and our main website, inclusionmatters.org, providing sponsors visibility on two separate platforms. We also recognize these sponsors through our social media posts and email blasts, which provide additional exposure.

Once the sponsorship is confirmed, ZipSprout promptly sends payment for the donation. The entire process is seamless, and we have never had an issue receiving funds. From initial approval to posting the sponsor’s information and providing recognition, we spend very little time on each sponsorship.

The total time commitment varies depending on the timing and number of communications, but I’d estimate approximately 1.5–2 hours per sponsorship.

A great example is our annual Run, Walk & Roll, our largest community fundraising event. Last year, ZipSprout helped us secure three $500 corporate sponsorships from Adobe Acrobat, Bark.com, and S.L. Pitts PC, generating $1,500 in additional funding from businesses we likely would not have reached through traditional outreach efforts.

The only drawback is not receiving the sponsors’ direct contact information, which prevents us from sending personalized thank-you letters or developing ongoing relationships with these businesses. While we would love to personally acknowledge their generosity, we understand ZipSprout manages those relationships.

What do you do to ensure that the sponsors align with your organization’s values?

With ZipSprout, we review prospective sponsors before approving their logo and website link on our site. While we appreciate every funding opportunity, maintaining the integrity of our mission and our organization’s reputation always takes precedence over accepting a sponsorship.

We primarily consider whether a potential sponsor’s business, products, and public reputation align with our mission of inclusion, accessibility, and supporting children and families.

We look at the company’s website, the nature of its business, and whether its products or services are appropriate for a family-focused nonprofit. We avoid businesses or industries that could conflict with our values or potentially damage the trust we have built with the families and communities we serve.

Advice for nonprofits using ZipSprout

My advice is to keep an open mind, carefully review potential sponsors to ensure they align with your mission, and fully recognize them through your website, social media, and email communications.

And remember that these sponsorships may be one-time contributions rather than recurring revenue, so they should complement your existing fundraising efforts rather than replace them.

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