Sponsoring an emerging athlete used to mean knowing someone who knew someone. On ralli it takes about two minutes from an athlete profile, and every step after that — consent, the proposal, the agreement, the payment — runs through one place. This guide walks the whole thing, screen by screen, exactly as it looks today.
Who this is for
Any brand, business, club or organisation that wants to back a specific athlete: a local company sponsoring a junior from the same town, a kit brand looking for authentic content, a nutrition or equipment brand wanting category presence with a rising name. There is no minimum contract length and no tier you have to buy into first. You choose an athlete, choose a package, and ralli handles the rest.
Step 1 — Find the athlete and hit Sponsor
Every athlete on ralli has a public profile. The sponsor call to action sits in two places on that profile so you never have to hunt for it. The first is right in the athlete header, next to their sport, age and verification status.
The second sits further down the profile, under the athlete's share card, so a brand reading through the story and results can act without scrolling back to the top.
Step 2 — Choose a package and tell us your goals
The button opens a short request form. You pick a package, a duration, and add your details. Nothing is committed at this point — it is an expression of interest that ralli qualifies before the athlete sees it.
Packages run from Community Sponsor (logo on profile, a thank-you post, season updates) through Performance Partner (kit or race-day branding plus content collaborations) to Principal Partner (appearances, events and exclusive category rights). There is also a custom option if none of them fit. Durations run from a single event to twelve months. Every profile shows an estimated monthly reach — impressions across the athlete's channels, an indication rather than a guarantee.
Step 3 — The athlete (or guardian) decides
ralli reviews the request, then sends it to the athlete. Under-18s go to their parent or guardian instead. They see the offer in plain English — what the package is, what is expected of them, what they receive — and choose Interested, Ask a question, or Not for me. If nothing comes back, we follow up after 48 hours and the request lapses after seven days, so no brand is left waiting.
Step 4 — Proposal and agreement
Once the athlete is in, ralli drafts the proposal. Nothing goes out until our team has approved it — every proposal and agreement is checked before a brand receives it. You then get the full agreement: package, term, total, deliverables and dates in one page.
You sign by typing your full name. The athlete (or guardian) countersigns from their ralli dashboard. There is a counter-offer option if the numbers need adjusting first.
Step 5 — Payment, delivery and reporting
Payment is made once and held by ralli. It is released to the athlete as each deliverable is completed and approved, rather than paid up front and hoped for. The terms are short and worth reading in full:
- ralli holds the sponsorship payment and releases it to the athlete as each deliverable is completed and approved.
- Either side can raise an issue with ralli at any point; we mediate before any funds move.
- Content stays the athlete's, with the brand licensed to reuse it for the agreed term.
- The agreement ends when the final deliverable is signed off, or by mutual agreement in writing.
Through the term you get progress updates, and at the end a results and reach summary for the season.
How is this different from backing an athlete?
Backing is for individuals — you contribute to an athlete's funding from $10 and follow the journey. Sponsorship is a commercial agreement between an organisation and an athlete, with defined deliverables, branding rights and a contract. Brands often do both: sponsor one athlete properly and back a handful of others in their sport.
Common questions
Do I need a ralli account to sponsor an athlete?
No. The request form on any athlete profile takes your details directly. An account is only needed if you also want to back athletes as a member.
What if the athlete is under 18?
Their parent or guardian receives and decides on the offer, and countersigns the agreement. Under-18 athletes never agree to a sponsorship alone.
Can I sponsor more than one athlete?
Yes. Send a request from each athlete's profile — ralli can bundle them into one agreement if the deliverables and dates line up.
How long does it take?
Most requests reach the athlete within a day. From first request to signed agreement is typically a week or two, depending on how quickly both sides respond.
What happens if a deliverable is missed?
Funds for that deliverable have not been released yet. Raise it with ralli and we mediate — reschedule, substitute or refund the outstanding portion.
Ready to start?
Browse the roster, find an athlete whose story fits your brand, and hit Sponsor on their profile. See the athletes →