OnStage's partners and sponsors: the story of our collaborations

Behind every partner, a story

When you publish your financial statement the way OnStage did in September 2025, the question you get most often is: "Who believed in you? How did you convince companies to invest?"

No magic formula. There was no professional PowerPoint pitch deck, no scientifically calculated sponsor acquisition cost. There were people who saw what we were building and chose to tell us "we're coming with you".

This is the story behind every partnership.

Torrefazione Colombo: the first local sponsor

Massimo Colombo has run the roastery since 1987. It's in Botrugno, 50 meters from Piazza San Pietro, where we organized RestArt 2024.

He watched the first murals appear around town. He watched people come back to the square in the evening. He watched tourists arrive for photos. He thought: "These kids are regenerating my market square".

When Marco Donato (our founder) knocked on the roastery door in November 2024 to ask for logistical support, Massimo answered in the simplest way possible:

> "How much do you need? Coffee at every event, free. But do one thing for me: make sure your kids come to the roastery when the events are over. I'll give them coffee at a friendly price. They'll spread the word to the tourists. Fair deal?"

He didn't ask for a giant logo. He asked that we bring community. This is sponsorship that actually works: it's not one-way visibility, it's co-creation of value.

In 2025, he formalized the contribution (€3,500) and is now our biggest local supporter. His coffee is at every Open Mic.

Ferramenta Rizzo: the practical supporter

Giuseppe Rizzo runs an ordinary hardware store: nails, paint, tools, plastics. Nothing glamorous.

But when you start organizing outdoor events, you realize a hardware store is your best ally. Need an improvised structure? Pipes, wood, corner brackets. Need weatherproofing? Industrial tarps. Need something urgently at 6pm when every shop is closed? Giuseppe opens up.

The relationship started in August 2025, months after RestArt 2024. During the setup for an Open Mic evening, one of our volunteers broke a chair leg. We desperately searched for an open retailer. Giuseppe said:

> "I'm right around the corner. I'll come myself."

He brought wood, nails, a screwdriver. He helped fix the structure in 10 minutes. Free, no questions asked.

When we started looking for sponsors for 2025, Giuseppe was the natural choice. He didn't sign a contract: he just said "call me when you need something, we'll work out the money side of it".

Since January 2025, he contributes officially (€2,100). But his real value is practical: "Guys, for Jam Writers 2025, do you need anything?" Pipes, shelving, industrial tarps, all at cost price.

Studio legale Marchesi: the unlikely sponsor

Avvocato Marchesi works in Lecce, a traditional commercial law firm. He has little in common with a cultural APS (Associazione di Promozione Sociale, Association for Social Promotion).

So how did this happen?

His daughter, Alessia Marchesi, attended the Freestyle 101 Workshop in 2025. She wasn't previously a hip-hop enthusiast. A friend dragged her along, out of curiosity.

By week 3, she had started writing rhymes. By week 6, she took part in a spontaneous cipher in the square. By week 8, she had decided: "I want to keep going, I want to perform".

Her father, watching the transformation, understood something many parents don't see: his daughter was developing confidence, voice, community. He didn't see a "dangerous" hip-hop environment. He saw education.

He contacted Marco Donato: "What do you need? I'm a lawyer, legal advice is my trade. I'll contribute formally".

Now Studio Marchesi offers legal advice at a friendly rate (€200/hour instead of €400) for APS contracts, compliance, and administrative matters. Formal contribution: €2,600.

And Alessia? She's still writing rhymes. She chose the University of Lecce, a Languages degree, because she wants to study slam poetry in different languages.

Comune di Botrugno: the institutional co-creator

An APS couldn't function without municipal support. Public spaces, permits, paperwork.

What's different in Botrugno?

Mayor Vincenzo Rizzo (no relation to the hardware store) was an active supporter from day one, not a bureaucrat rubber-stamping forms. He saw RestArt 2024 as an opportunity to regenerate the town.

When we applied for funds through the "Urban Regeneration" call, the Comune (municipality) didn't negotiate downward. It said: "You're putting in €4,000? We'll add €1,000 in in-kind resources: pre-festival cleaning, public restrooms kept open, traffic management".

At the end of the year, the mayor commented publicly:

> "OnStage transformed Botrugno in six months. More than any infrastructure investment. That's what we mean by urban regeneration: not paving over, but bringing to life."

In 2025, the Comune contributed again (€4,000 from its budget) and promised continued support in 2026.

Regione Puglia: the funder that gives back to the territory

The Regione Puglia's "Fondo cultura giovani" (Youth Culture Fund) grant is complicated. It requires:
- Periodic financial reports
- Expense documentation
- Impact report
- Sustainability certificates

But once approved, it's a stable stream. We received €2,800 in 2025. It will fund three youth initiatives in 2026.

What surprised us? The region didn't ask for "visible results". It asked for real results: did you teach 30 kids freestyle? Yes, the 24 who kept going are your results. Did you produce murals? Yes, documented. Did you generate community? Yes, the video testimonials prove it.

This is public funding done right: it's not vanity, it's truth.

The 2025-2026 network

What emerges from the first year?

Small sponsors beat big sponsors. Local businesses believe in our future because they see the results in their day-to-day lives.

Diversification is a virtue. Six sponsors means losing one doesn't wreck the budget. In 2025, if one partner had pulled out, we'd have been in deficit. In 2026, we'll have nine identified sponsors and we're more resilient.

Transparency attracts serious partners. When businesses see the detailed financial statement, they understand we're not hiding anything. It's the signal they're looking for: "These kids are genuine".

Invitation: are you a business that wants to make a difference?

If you're reading this and thinking "OnStage does what we believe should be done in our territory", let's get to know each other.

We're not looking for sponsors who want a giant logo. We're looking for partners who say: "What are you building? How can we help?"

Our email is open. Our accounting is transparent. Our kids know who's paying for things. And we know that you truly believe.

Whether it's a roastery, a law firm, a hardware store, or an institution, the pattern is always the same: partnership is conversation, not transaction.

Will you come with us on this journey?

Contact us: partnerships@onstage.salento