Setting first-rights windows on events

A first-rights window gives prior sponsors the chance to renew their sponsorship before sales open to the general public. It is the most effective retention tool in Chamberly — a typical chamber sees 60-80% renewal when first rights are used well.

• You need an org_manager role to configure first-rights settings

• Decide which sponsorships should offer first rights (often the top tiers)

• Have a list of past sponsors and which sponsorships they bought

1. Open the event from Sidebar > Events

2. Click into the sponsorship that should offer first rights

3. Set Availability to first_rights

4. Set the First-rights window start and end dates

5. Click Save

6. Open Sales > First Rights and click Add holder

7. Pick the business or sponsor and the sponsorship — they will receive a notification

8. For multiple holders at once, use Bulk add first rights with a CSV

• First-rights holders see the sponsorship in their account with a Claim now button

• Other sponsors do not see the sponsorship at all until you flip it to public

• If a holder does not claim by the window end date, you can release it to public manually or with an automation

• Give holders 7-14 days to decide — long enough to think, short enough to keep momentum

• Email holders the day the window opens with a direct claim link

• Use the First Rights Report to track who has and has not claimed

• Set up a Marketing > Automation to auto-release unclaimed sponsorships when the window closes

What if two holders are offered the same sponsorship?
Whoever claims first wins. The other holder is notified that the sponsorship is no longer available.

Can I extend a first-rights window?
Yes — edit the sponsorship and update the end date.

Do first-rights holders pay the same price?
Yes by default. Use a coupon if you want to offer a renewal discount.

• Sponsorship availability statuses explained

• Event statuses (draft, active, archived) explained

• Setting an event go-live date