Growth Partners Gain Exposure with Organic Consumers

Interest in organic agriculture, local food and farms, and sustainability continues to grow among consumers. Sponsorship as a Growth Partner of OGS provides targeted exposure to organic consumers in the region.

OGS is the only organization in Western North Carolina whose mission is specifically focused on organic education for farmers, gardeners, and consumers.

Partnership with Organic Growers School increases your business’s exposure among organic consumers.

Organic Growers School directly reaches approximately 3500+ consumers, gardeners, and farmers in person every year at events, and about 80,000 consumers, gardeners, and farmers via the OGS website, mailings, email list, and social networking (such as Facebook).

OGS has a 25-year track record of providing practical information about organic agriculture at a reasonable price to growers in the region. OGS has built solid name recognition and a loyal following among organic consumers and growers.

Your partnership with Organic Growers School connects you to these values and provides exposure to values-driven consumers.

“A strategic alliance with a nonprofit organization can help generate business by enhancing a company’s reputation, building goodwill, and strengthening its image. Such alliances can also expand a business’s network, markets, and access to key customer groups.”

-Meeting the Collaboration Challenge: Developing Strategic Alliances Between Nonprofit Organizations and Businesses, The Drucker Foundation.

Growth Partner Program Reaching Organic Consumers through Year-Round Sponsorship

Organic Consumers Make Purchasing Decisions Based on Values

Organic consumers are educated, loyal, willing to pay a premium for environmentally sensitive and healthy products, and make purchasing decisions based on values. Some of these values, found in numerous studies, are local, environmentally responsible, and ethically produced. For more information, see: Organic Trade Association Consumer Profile Facts.

By marketing to Organic Growers School students and supporters, your business gains exposure to organic consumers and advertises your support for local farms, farmers, and organic agriculture.

Retail sales of organic foods is up to $35.9 billion in 2014 up from $3.6 billion in 1997.

“Creating organic farms and organic gardens is the single biggest climate

solution. It’s also the single biggest food security solution.” ~Vandana Shiva, Sustainable Agriculture Activist, Educator, & Scholar

How Supporting Organic Growers School Can Help Your Business

“80% of consumers say that corporate support of causes they care about wins their trust in that company.

79% percent of consumers would switch brands to support a cause they care about (price and quality being equal)—and for Millennials (ages 18-24) it’s 88%.

92% percent of consumers have a more positive image of a company that supports a cause they care about.”

-Jason Saul, Mission Measurement, LLC

“Organic Growers School is the

regional source for information

on organic agriculture and

gardening in Western North

Carolina.”

~ Jeanine Davis, Associate Professor and

Extension Specialist,

Horticultural Science, NCSU

Organic Growers School Constituent Demographics

0.00%5.00%

10.00%15.00%20.00%25.00%30.00%35.00%

25 orunder

26-40 41-55 56-68 69-81 82 orover

10.55%

28.13% 23.85%

31.80%

5.05% 0.61%

Age Range

0.00%

50.00%

100.00%

Female Male

64.63% 35.37%

Gender Range

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%

4.30% 4.15%

22.58%

43.63%

15.05% 6.45% 2.92% 0.92%

Education Range

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%46.17%

15.83% 10.17%

18.83%

6.17% 2.83%

Employment Range

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%

55.38%

21.84% 11.70% 6.71% 1.09% 3.28%

Relationship Range

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

<5 years 5-10 years 10-20years

>20 years

58.28%

14.25% 13.10% 14.37%

Years in Current Home

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

2.77% 7.00%

9.61% 12.70%

5.86% 7.82% 8.63% 9.45% 7.65%

28.50% Income Range

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

HomeGrower

I sellproducts

HomeGrower

I grow forfamily

I am nota Grower

CommercialFarmer

13.51%

65.37%

13.20% 7.92%

Type of Organic Grower

OGS Programs

Organic Growers School seeks financial sponsorships from businesses to expand our reach and impact and to increase the availability of educational opportunities for organic farmers, gardeners, and consumers.

Affordable, Accessible, Practical, Regionally Appropriate Organic Education

Our mission is to advance organic agriculture and sustainable living in the Southern Appalachians by gathering people to teach, learn, and celebrate together. We are building a mutually supportive network of prosperous farmers, productive gardeners, and informed consumers engaged in creating healthy communities.

Growth Partners: Your Investment and Your Benefits

You Invest You Benefit

“Soil” Growth Partner

$10,000/yr. For 3 years

Spring Conference Anchor Sponsor $5000 Benefits Each Year

Harvest Conference Sponsor Benefits Each Year

Sponsorship Recognition in all OGS Programs with Logo inclusion • CRAFT – Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training – Support Program for WNC Farmers • Farm Dreams A one-day Exploratory Workshop for Farm Dreamers • Homestead Dreams: Design & Plan for Living on Your Land • Farm Beginnings Farmer Training • Annual Spring and Fall Gardening Series

Electronic Media o Inclusion once per month in an OGS E-Newsletters (received by 9,500 consumers, farmers, and

gardeners) o Name, logo, and “Growth Partner” recognition on OGS website(average monthly hits: 21,000+)

Inclusion in Social Media postings during the year.

Annual Update on OGS Programs & Annual Growth Partner luncheon with the Board & ED

Guaranteed sponsorship level for 3 years to be invoiced annually.

You Invest You Benefit

“Compost” Growth Partner

$5,000/yr. For 3 years

Spring Conference Keynote Sponsor $2500 Benefits Each Year

Harvest Conference Sponsor Benefits Each Year

Sponsorship Recognition in all OGS Programs with Logo inclusion • CRAFT – Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training – Support Program for WNC Farmers • Farm Dreams? A one-day Exploratory Workshop for Farm Dreamers • Homestead Dreams: Design & Plan for Living on Your Land • Farm Beginnings Farmer Training • Annual Earth-Day Movie • Annual Organic Gardening Series

Electronic Media o Inclusion once per month in an OGS E-Newsletters (received by 9,500 consumers, farmers, and

gardeners) o Name, logo, and “Growth Partner” recognition on OGS website(average monthly hits: 21,000+)

Inclusion in Social Media postings during the year.

Annual Update on OGS Programs & Annual Growth Partner luncheon with the Board & ED

Guaranteed sponsorship level for 3 years to be invoiced annually..

You Invest You Benefit

“Mulch” Growth Partner

$2,500/yr. For 3 years

Spring Conference Sustaining Sponsor $1000 Benefits Each Year:

Harvest Conference Sponsor Benefits Each Year:

Sponsorship Recognition in all OGS Programs with Logo inclusion • CRAFT – Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training – Support Program for WNC Farmers • Farm Dreams? A one-day Exploratory Workshop for Farm Dreamers • Homestead Dreams: Design & Plan for Living on Your Land • Farm Beginnings Farmer Training • Annual Earth-Day Movie • Annual Organic Gardening Series

Electronic Media o Name, logo, and “Growth Partner” recognition on OGS website(average monthly hits: 21,000+)

Inclusion in Social Media postings during the year.

Annual Update on OGS Programs

Guaranteed sponsorship level for 3 years to be invoiced annually.

The Growth Partner’s Commitment

o Growth Partners may commit to the Organic Growers School anytime in the calendar year. o Growth Partners commit to an investment of support over three years (Investment is payable in annual payments.) o Where applicable, OGS is willing to exchange some media support at ½ value for part of the Growth Partner Investment.