Conference 2021: Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities

ABOUT THE 2021 CWR CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE DATES
October 5-8, 2021

CONFERENCE LOCATION
Guesthouse at Graceland
3600 Elvis Presley Blvd
Memphis, TN 3816
Hotel website

OUR MISSION
Communicators for Women Religious (CWR) provides professional networking and education to members who communicate and advance the mission and ministries of women religious. CWR’s mission is to be a network of professional support and education for members who promote understanding of women religious, enhance their image and advance their mission. CWR is also a resource to organizations serving women religious. The organization is a 501(c)(3) organization funded in part through a generous grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

OUR AUDIENCE & ATTENDEES
CWR boasts a membership of more than 220 members from 142 congregations and 22 associated ministries and other organizations. Our members represent religious congregations that range in size from 18 to as many as 4,000 vowed members worldwide. The organization identifies 17 geographic regions and encourages members who are in those specific areas to meet regularly, share information, and collaborate on projects when appropriate.

• Our members’ professional responsibilities include public relations, advancement, marketing, social media, fundraising, advocacy, donor relations, and grant management for religious communities and their sponsored ministries.
• Our members report that their top job responsibilities include:

• • Newsletter and magazine editing
  • Website development
  • Public relations
  • Media relations
  • Fund development
  • Advertising

• Members most often outsource photography, website maintenance, video production, and special event planning.
• Members are primarily based in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and Australia.
• Our members manage a wide variety of budgets from a few thousand dollars up to $500,000, with influence over marketing, development, technology and other decisions.

Interest in our conference has grown to include professionals outside of our traditional audience, both outside of North America and in organizations tangentially related to women religious.

Our conference is attended by approximately 130 communications and development professionals each year, and we have a goal to welcome 150 attendees this year, the first time our members have been able to gather in person in more than two years (due to the COVID pandemic). In addition, CWR’s total membership has access to shared materials, resources, and live-streamed or recorded portions of the event.

CONFERENCE TOPICS
This year’s conference keynote speaker is Sr. Mary Pellegrino, who will share, “From Strings to Yeast: Shifting the Narrative from Scarcity to Abundance.” Her talk will explore questions facing and renewed opportunities available to women religious and those engaged in the ministry of communication and development on their behalf.

In addition to the plenary sessions, participants have a choice from 12 workshop options in three tracks for: communicators, collaborators and fundraisers. Workshop topics include:

• Communicating Across Cultures
• Motivating Millennials to Give Now
• Bringing Mission, Justice and Stewardship to Your Website
• Rethinking Analytics: Responsibly and Ethically Gathering Useful Data
• Vocation Communications
• Fundraising in the Context of Diversity
• Making Communication Available for Those with Disabilities
• Amplifying Justice
• 7 Deadly Sins of Fundraising and Other Ethical Dilemmas
• Pitching the Story of Women Religious
• How to Write and Self-Publish Your Own Book
• The Process-Driven Annual Fund 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

• Technology Sponsor: $1,500
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  • The Technology Sponsor may select the Wi-Fi password for the event. For example, attendees may type in the name of your organization to log in.
  • The Technology Sponsor’s logo will be shown on screen or on paper whenever the Wi-Fi password is shared.
  • The Technology Sponsor’s logo will be displayed on the AV table in the back of the room throughout the conference.
  • Any live-streamed or recorded portions of the event, which will be shared with all CWR members, will be referred to as “presented by [your organization].”

• Night Out Sponsor: $3,000
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  On Thursday evening of the conference, all attendees are invited to visit the National Civil Rights Museum for a night out to encourage supportive relationships and connections among members.

  • • The Night Out Sponsor’s logo will appear on pre-conference materials and conference app, as well as conference app.
    • The Night Out Sponsor’s logo will be shown on the screen whenever it is discussed during the conference.

• Welcome Reception Sponsor: $2,500
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  A Welcome Reception cocktail party will be held for all attendees on the first night of the conference: Tuesday, October 5.

  • • The Welcome Reception Sponsor’s brochures or promotional materials may be placed on tabled throughout the reception area.
    • The Welcome Reception will be referred to as “The Welcome Reception presented by [your organization].”
    • Up to four representatives of your organization are invited to join us for the welcome reception if you are able.

• Professional Awards Sponsor: $2,500
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  Awards are presented in print, electronic media and integrated campaign categories.

  • • The opportunity to make 2-minute comments during the awards presentations
    • Logo and company blurb included on awards promotional material and news releases
    • Logo on award-related social media posts
    • Opportunity to include flier in conference welcome bag

• Name Badge Sponsor: $1,500
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  Every conference attendee, exhibitor, board, volunteer, speaker and staff member will wear a name badge that may include your name/logo. 

  • • The Name Badge Sponsor’s name will be read from the podium and logo shown on screen during sponsor recognition during the conference welcome and closing remarks.

• Meal Sponsor: $1,000 (five available)
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  • The Meal Sponsor’s logo will be prominently displayed on or next to the buffet line during the sponsored meal.
  • The Meal Sponsor’s fliers, business cards or other promotional materials can be placed on the dining tables during the meal.  

• Coffee Break Sponsor: $750 (two available)
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  • • The Coffee Break Sponsor’s logo will be prominently displayed on or next to the table with refreshments during the sponsored break.
    • The Coffee Break Sponsor’s fliers, business cards or other promotional materials can be placed on or near the refreshment table for distribution during the sponsored break.

Design Your Own Sponsorship
Do you want to support CWR, but don’t see what you need? Contact us with your ideas, as we would be happy to customize an opportunity to fit your interests!

EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES

As a sponsor or exhibitor at this year’s conference, you become a vital part of our efforts to advance the mission of Catholic sisters. In gratitude, we offer a range of opportunities to share your services, work, or products with our members, including both in-person and in promotional conference materials and regular member communications. 

The exhibitor area will remain open throughout the conference and is conveniently located in the hallway and lobby area directly in front of most plenary and workshop room locations. We have incorporated numerous breaks so conference participants will have time to mingle with exhibitors before, during and after the daily sessions.

• Set-up: any time on Monday, October 4 or before 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5
• Conference run-time: The conference opens with registration Tuesday, October 5 at 4 p.m. A Restart for new and returning conference attendees will be held from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on the 5^th, with Mass, breakfast, the welcome and opening prayer slated for the morning of Wednesday, October 6. The conference concludes at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 8.
• Tear down: any time after noon on Friday, October 8. All materials must be removed by 4 p.m. on Friday, October 8.

REGISTRATION FORM

CLICK HERE to support CWR Conference 2021 by selecting your sponsorship package(s) or joining us as an exhibitor.

NOTE: When accessing the form for the first time, you will be prompted to create a user profile by providing an email address and password.

CWR CONFERENCE 2021 AV SPONSOR:

VISION Vocation Network, the most comprehensive multimedia resource for those discerning a religious vocation, welcomes more than 350,000 visitors each year to its website VocationNetwork.org. The annual VISION Vocation Guide is distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada in print and around the world in digital format. And more than 5,000 new and unique inquirers complete VISION Vocation Match profiles each year to learn more about the vocation that might be right for them. Communicators, VISION reaches the audience you want to reach!