08/19/2026
Unpopular opinion: Asking a small business for a sponsorship or donation isn’t “supporting small business” if the only time you support that business is when you need something from them.
I’m probably going to p**s some people off with this one, but it needs to be said. Small businesses get asked CONSTANTLY to sponsor teams, donate to fundraisers, give gift certificates, provide products, discount orders, donate shirts… the list goes on and on. And we’re happy to support our community. We WANT to support our community. But here’s the part nobody likes talking about: How often do you support those same businesses when you DON’T need something?
If you’re asking the local apparel decorator to donate $500 to your organization, but you ordered your last 200 shirts online because you saved a couple bucks, are you really supporting local? If you’re asking a restaurant for a $100 gift card for your fundraiser, but never eat there, how is that a partnership? If you’re asking a local business to sponsor your kid’s team, but you’ve never bought anything from them, recommended them, shared their posts, or sent them a customer… what exactly are they getting out of this “support?”
Supporting small business can’t only happen when you need the small business to support YOU.
I’m curious what the other small business owners on here think. Have you ever gotten a sponsorship or donation request that made you think, “You’ve literally never supported my business… but now you want me to support yours?” And on the flip side, what makes you WANT to say yes when someone asks?