Strategic Plan

Partnership Plan

LA 2028 Team & Sponsorship Strategy

Core Objectives

1. Performance Goal

To secure the necessary financial, professional, and performance-based support to successfully train for and qualify for the LA 2028 Paralympics.

2. Advocacy Goal

To build a dedicated team (of partners, sponsors, and professionals) to actively promote the Paralympic Games of 2028 throughout Leuven and Flanders.

3. Legacy Goal

To become the first-ever Paralympian from Leuven, using this personal journey as a platform to inspire the community and create lasting awareness for Paralympic sports.

1. The Financial Partners

This group consists of two tiers of financial sponsors: a local base of support (Leuven Circle) and a national-level group of major partners.

1A. The Leuven Circle

Goal

To create a stable financial base to cover all annual climbing-related costs and fund the communication campaign.

Target

A core group of 8 partner companies.

Profile:

  • Leuven-based companies
  • Primary focus on engineering firms to leverage my own background (PhD in Engineering)

Outreach:

A mix of warm outreach (existing network) and cold emailing.

Timeline:

Secure all 8 partners within the first 6 months of the campaign.

The Ask (Financial):

  • A minimum of €1,000 per year per partner
  • This ask will scale annually, rising to approximately €1,500 per year by the final year

The Return (Negotiable):

  • Official partner status with promotion on the fre2028.LA website and social media
  • In-company talks (e.g., on performance, resilience, an engineer's approach to athletics)
  • Team-building activities, such as a climbing initiation

Terms:

Partnerships will be structured for a yearly renewal. This builds in accountability, allowing me to prove the campaign's success each year. If a partner does not renew, a replacement will be sought.

1B. The Prime Partners (National Level)

Goal

To secure major funding that allows me to focus 100% on performance in the final, critical year leading up to the Paralympics.

Target

Approximately 4 very large partners.

Profile:

  • Major national (Flemish) companies
  • Strong B2C (Business-to-Consumer) focus with a large customer base
  • Examples: Banks, supermarket chains, restaurant chains

Outreach:

This will be a long-term strategic effort.

Timeline:

Secure all 4 partners by the beginning of 2028. This gives a ~2-year runway to build these high-level relationships.

The Ask (Financial):

Approximately €10,000 each.

The Return:

  • High-level national visibility and association with the Belgian Paralympic story
  • Inspirational talks for their national employee base
  • Major brand alignment opportunities

Challenge:

This is acknowledged as the most challenging part of the financial plan and will require a dedicated, professional approach.

2. Strategic Partners

Pro Bono Services

Leuven-Based Professional Services

Goal:

To acquire professional services and expertise to run the campaign effectively without direct financial cost, while simultaneously strengthening my Leuven network.

Target:

Leuven-based companies and skilled professionals.

Profile:

  • Market research / analysis firm
  • Advertisement / PR agency
  • Professional content creators (videographer, photographer)
  • Legal or administrative support

The Ask:

Pro bono services and expertise (not a financial contribution).

The Return:

  • Official partner status and full visibility on the website and in campaign materials
  • A unique and tangible way to support a local athlete
  • Practical benefits (e.g., using a non-profit structure for services)

Rationale:

Keeping these partners local is practically easier and reinforces the "First Paralympian from Leuven" narrative by building a strong local support web.

3. The Performance Team

Expert Support

Athletic, Physical & Mental Preparation

Goal:

This is the non-financial, high-performance team responsible for my athletic, physical, and mental preparation.

Profile:

This is my core athletic support structure, which is already in development.

Team Members:

  • Trainers & Coaches
  • Food Expert / Nutritionist
  • Kine (Physiotherapist)
  • Climbing Federation
  • G-Sport Vlaanderen

Summary: Financial Partnership Tiers

Feature1A. The Leuven Circle1B. The Prime Partners
GoalCover running costs, fund campaignEnable 100% performance focus in final year
GeographyLeuvenFlanders / National
# of Partners8~4
Ask (per partner)€1,000 - €1,500 per year~€10,000 (one-time or final year)
Target ProfileEngineering firms, local SMEsBanks, Supermarkets, large B2C chains
TimelineSecure within 6 monthsSecure by early 2028