How It Works | GamePlan | A network of school sponsorships
How It Works

The whole model, explained simply.

No jargon, no smoke. Exactly what GamePlan does, who pays whom, what each side commits to, and how a sponsorship goes from a phone call to a board on the field.

The process

Eight steps from handshake to live sponsorship.

A typical sponsorship cycle takes between 4 and 12 weeks. The labels show who's doing each step.

1
School & GamePlanWeek 1

Intro call & agreement

A short, no-pressure conversation. We learn about your school, your current sponsorships and what's off-limits. If it fits, we send through a simple marketing agreement.

30-minute intro callNo commitment, no obligation
Marketing agreementPlain-language, 60-day exit clause
2
SchoolWeek 1–2

You share your opportunities

You complete the sponsorship opportunity template — teams, events, advertising boards, digital platforms. You also flag existing sponsors and category exclusivities to protect.

Opportunity templateWe provide it, you fill it in
Existing sponsor listRecorded in Schedule 1, protected
3
GamePlanWeek 2–3

We design sponsor packages

Tailored to your audience, fixtures, facilities and positioning. Clear pricing, defined deliverables, sensible category exclusivities.

Tailored packagesDesigned for your school specifically
Expert pricing guidanceSo you don't under- or over-charge
4
GamePlanWeek 3 onwards

We secure sponsors

The outreach, calls, meetings, proposals and negotiations — all in your school's name. We approach our network of corporates and local businesses with packages designed for your school.

National & local outreachBrands and SMEs across South Africa
Always in your school's nameYou're never misrepresented
5
SchoolPer deal

You approve every sponsor

When a sponsor is ready to sign, we send the deal to you for approval. If the brand doesn't fit your values, you say no. Nothing is signed without your sign-off.

Written sign-off requiredNo assumptions, no auto-approvals
Full veto rightsYou can decline any sponsor, any reason
6
GamePlanPer deal

Sponsorship addendum signed

Each approved deal is recorded in a written addendum — sponsor details, asset(s), duration, net amount, fee and deliverables. Clear, in writing, for both sides.

Written addendum per dealNo verbal commitments, ever
Defined deliverablesNo surprise requests later
7
School & GamePlanPer deal

Implementation

Branding goes up. Kit gets printed. Boards get hung. We handle artwork coordination; you handle access and placement. Then we collect implementation evidence.

Artwork & deadlines managedBy us, not your team
Photo evidence collectedFor sponsor reporting
8
GamePlan → School7–14 business days

You receive sponsorship income

We invoice the sponsor for the full amount. Once they pay and implementation evidence is provided, we pay the net amount to your school within 7–14 business days.

Net amount paid outWithin 7–14 business days of receipt
Monthly remittance statementsFull visibility, every month
The money

How the money actually moves.

No grey areas. The flow is the same on every deal — and our fee is paid by the sponsor, never deducted from the school's amount.

Sponsor

Pays the full sponsorship amount (net + agent's fee + VAT) to GamePlan.

PAYS

GamePlan

Retains the agent's fee, holds the net amount, awaits placement evidence.

7–14 DAYS

Your School

Receives the full net sponsorship amount, with a remittance statement.

Sponsor pays our fee, not you

The agent's fee is negotiated with the sponsor and added on top of your net amount. Your school receives exactly what was quoted.

Evidence-based payouts

The school's portion is paid once the sponsor has paid us and you've supplied implementation evidence — a photo of the branding or board.

Monthly remittance statements

Every month you receive a statement of what's been invoiced, what's been paid, and what's still outstanding. Total transparency.

Who does what

A clean split of responsibilities.

We do the heavy commercial lifting. You do the things only the school can do — approve, implement, and host.

GamePlan does

Securing & managing sponsorships

  • Designing sponsor-ready packagesTailored to your school's audience and assets
  • Approaching & pitching sponsorsNational corporates and local SMEs
  • Negotiating commercial termsSo your school always knows what it gets
  • Sponsorship addendums & adminWritten terms for every single deal
  • Invoicing & payment collectionFrom the sponsor, on your behalf
  • Monthly remittance reportingClear statements every month
Your school does

Approval, access & delivery

  • Sharing the opportunities listTeams, events, boards, digital, functions
  • Flagging existing sponsorsSo we never cross categories or relationships
  • Approving every sponsorYou decide who appears at your school
  • Implementing branding on-siteBoards, kit, digital, social — physically placed
  • Supplying implementation evidenceA simple photo of the placement
  • Honouring sponsor deliverablesWhat's promised in the addendum
The agreement

What's in the marketing agreement?

Our standard agreement is short, plain-English and built around protecting both sides. The full document is available before signing.

Request the full agreement
3

Non-exclusive appointment

You appoint us on a non-exclusive basis. You can continue your own sponsorship efforts and we focus on opportunities you assign to us.

5

Fees paid by sponsor

The agent's fee is paid by the sponsor in addition to your net amount. No fees are payable by the school unless expressly agreed in writing.

6

Payment within 7–14 business days

Once the sponsor has paid and implementation evidence is supplied, the net amount is paid to the school within 7–14 business days.

7

18-month non-circumvention

The school agrees not to bypass GamePlan for sponsors we've introduced, during the agreement and for 18 months after. Standard industry protection.

7.3

Existing sponsors fully protected

Sponsors you already have, or were in active negotiation with, are listed in Schedule 1 and exempt from non-circumvention.

9

60-day exit, anytime

The agreement runs until either party gives 60 days' written notice. Concluded sponsorships continue to run on agreed terms.

11

POPIA compliance

Both parties commit to compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act. Confidentiality and data handling are written in.

Questions we hear most

The honest answers.

Tap any question to expand.

How much does GamePlan cost our school?

Nothing upfront. Schools pay no fees to us. Our agent's fee is paid by the sponsor and is linked to sponsorships we actually secure. If nothing is sold, nothing is owed.

What if we already have sponsors?

Your existing relationships are fully protected. Before we start, you list current sponsors and category exclusivities in Schedule 1 of the agreement. We honour those throughout.

What if we find a sponsor ourselves while you're searching?

Just let us know immediately and we'll close that opportunity off our end. As long as the sponsor wasn't one we'd already approached on your behalf, there's no fee, and we move on to the next opportunity.

What if a sponsor we approached contacts the school directly?

If a sponsor we've already engaged with reaches out to your school directly, they're considered an "introduced sponsor" under the agreement, and our agent's fee still applies. Standard non-circumvention — it protects the work we've done on your behalf.

Who decides which sponsors come on board?

You do, always. Every sponsor is presented to you for written approval before anything is signed or activated. If a brand doesn't fit your school's values, you say no.

What can actually be sponsored?

Almost anything: sports teams and kit, perimeter and digital boards, tournaments, festivals, derby days, cultural events, productions, golf days, fundraisers, the school website, social media and big school functions. B, C and D teams, age-group teams, choirs and academic programmes can all be sponsored — often grouped as package deals.

How quickly can we go live?

A typical first sponsorship goes live within 4–12 weeks of signing the agreement, depending on artwork lead times and approval cycles. We move at your pace.

Are we tied in long-term?

No. The agreement continues until either side gives 60 days' written notice. Sponsorships already concluded continue to run on agreed terms, so your sponsors aren't disrupted.

How do we get started?

Three simple steps: (1) a short intro call, (2) a written marketing agreement, (3) you send us your opportunities list. We handle everything after that.

Now you know how it works. Let's start.

Whether you're a school looking to unlock sponsorship income or a brand looking for structured access to school communities, the next step is the same: a short conversation.