Sponsorship with a Purpose
Most sponsorship deals work one way and are fairly limited in what they achieve. A business pays to have its logo displayed around the ground or on a shirt, the club receives a fee and the relationship often ends there. There may be some visibility for the sponsor, but there is rarely much long term value for either side.
Sponsorship with a Purpose takes a different approach. It is designed to create an ongoing partnership between Modern World, sports clubs and local businesses across the UK. Instead of relying on one off sponsorship payments, the model creates a recurring source of income that can continue growing over time.
The idea is simple. Your club helps local businesses set up card payments and in return, your club earns a share of the ongoing commission every single month. 20% of the residual commission we earn from those merchants goes directly to a cause your club cares about. Usually, that’s the academy but ultimately, it is your choice.
This creates a practical way for clubs to generate long term support from everyday business activity already happening in their community.
How It Works
Modern World is a payments ISO. We work with acquiring banks to provide businesses across the UK with card machines and merchant services. Every time those businesses process payments, a small amount of residual commission is generated. That recurring commission is what makes Sponsorship with a Purpose possible.
When your club joins the programme, we create a white label payments brand linked to your club. Local businesses can then access card machines and payment services under your club’s branding, while Modern World manages the technical side behind the scenes.
We handle the payment processing, compliance requirements, onboarding, support and account management. Your club does not need previous payments industry experience to take part. What your community sees is a payment product that belongs to your club.
For local businesses, the process stays straightforward. They receive practical payment solutions with transparent pricing and UK based support. The setup is designed to work around how they already operate.
What is ‘White Label’?
White labelling is common across many industries, though most people never notice it. A company presents a service under its own branding while another provider manages the infrastructure behind it. For example, a bank might offer insurance products underwritten by a third party or a supermarket might sell fuel through a network it does not operate. The front-facing brand is one thing; the infrastructure behind it is another.
With Sponsorship with a Purpose, your club has its own branded payments offering that can be introduced to businesses in the local area. From the outside, businesses see a payment service connected to the club they support and recognise.
Behind the scenes, Modern World manages the operational side. That includes terminals, merchant accounts, payment processing, compliance and customer support.
We work with your club to create the branding and make sure everything is set up properly. Your club brings the local connection and community trust. We provide the payments expertise and ongoing support.
The 20% Pledge
Every month, Modern World calculates the residual commission generated by the merchants connected to your club’s payments brand. 20% of that commission is then paid directly to the club’s chosen cause or foundation.
For many clubs, that funding supports academy coaching, youth teams, training facilities, travel costs and player development. Others may choose to direct the money towards wider community programmes or grassroots sport initiatives. The choice is yours.
Importantly, this does not increase costs for businesses using the service. Merchants still receive competitive rates and standard payment solutions. The contribution comes from Modern World’s share of the commission, not from additional charges added to the business.
That means local businesses can access practical payment systems while also supporting something meaningful within their community.
How It Benefits the Local Community
Sports clubs play a much bigger role than what happens during matches. They are part of the fabric of where they are, providing structure, opportunities and a sense of connection for people of all ages.
Youth programmes and academies are especially important, but they can also be difficult to fund consistently. Costs continue throughout the year, while traditional sponsorship income is often unpredictable.
Sponsorship with a Purpose creates a sustainable income stream that grows as more local businesses join. The more the community gets behind it, the more the academy benefits. It turns ordinary commercial activity with businesses taking card payments into something that directly supports youth sport in the area.
For supporters and local businesses, it offers a practical way to back the club without making separate donations or sponsorship commitments. It also helps keep value within the local area instead of sending all payment revenue to large national providers with no direct community connection.
How It Benefits Local Businesses
Local businesses joining the programme are not signing up purely to support the club or as an act of charity. They are receiving a professional card payment setup designed around their day to day needs. That includes competitive pricing, reliable payment technology, straightforward onboarding and ongoing UK-based support backed by Modern World’s team.
But they are also getting something else. When a business signs up through your club’s payments brand, they become a visible part of the initiative. They are contributing to the academy fund every month, simply by processing their normal transactions. For businesses that are already supporters or that want to be seen as part of the community rather than just operating within it, that association carries real value. By joining the programme, they become part of an initiative that directly supports local sport and youth development.
For clubs, this creates a much more natural conversation with local businesses. Instead of asking for sponsorship money upfront, clubs can introduce a useful business service with a built in community contribution. That makes the relationship more balanced and more sustainable over time.
Open to All Sports Clubs
Sponsorship with a Purpose is open to sports clubs across the UK at every level. Football clubs have shown strong interest because of their large supporter bases and strong local identity, but the model is not limited to football. Rugby clubs, cricket clubs, non league sides and other community sports organisations can all benefit from the same approach.
If your club has a local following and businesses nearby that take card payments, the programme can work within your community.
This is already operating in practice through Peterborough United’s Posh Payments initiative. The stadium uses our terminals, local businesses are connected to the programme and the academy receives ongoing monthly funding generated through payment processing activity.
The model is designed to be practical, scalable and sustainable for clubs that want to create longer term community revenue rather than relying entirely on traditional sponsorship deals.
If you would like to explore how Sponsorship with a Purpose could work for your club, we can talk you through the process, explain how the branding works and provide realistic guidance on what the programme could generate for your chosen cause over time.
Interested In Partnering With Us?
Sponsorship with a Purpose is open to sports clubs across the UK looking for a more sustainable approach to commercial partnerships and community funding.
Modern World has already helped hundreds of UK businesses review their payment setup, reduce unnecessary costs and access reliable merchant services tailored to their needs. That includes businesses searching for practical payment solutions such as card machines for food trucks and card machines for takeaways.
If your club would like to explore how the partnership could work in your area, we can talk you through the process, explain the branding setup, and provide a realistic overview of how the programme could grow over time. Get in touch today.
