APPENDIX A
thinkgrowth MDF Program Guidelines
thinkgrowth MDF Guidelines
Table of Contents
MDF Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Partner Eligibility ..................................................................................................................................... 2
Establishing an MDF Fund ...................................................................................................................... 2
Eligible Marketing Activities..................................................................................................................... 3
Thinklogical Logo Use Guidelines ........................................................................................................... 3
MDF Request Process ............................................................................................................................ 3
Table A. Proof of Performance Examples .............................................................................................. 4
General Terms and Conditions ............................................................................................................... 5
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MDF Overview
Thinklogical’s Marketing Development Fund (MDF) Program is designed to assist our
Partners in growing new markets, adding new customers and generating attractive returns with
Thinklogical products, through co-branded marketing activities and co-sponsored events.
Thinklogical is committed to participating, both strategically and financially, in these activities
with our partners. However, all marketing activities and materials must conform to the
Thinklogical Marketing Development Fund guidelines outlined in this document. Thinklogical
will strictly enforce these guidelines, including the requirement for Proof of Performance (POP)
and Return on Investment (ROI) justification for all marketing activities.
Partner Eligibility
For a partner to be eligible to receive marketing development funds, they must have completed
all requirements to achieve Silver or Gold status as outlined in Thinklogical’s thinkgrowth
Partner Program and have officially received notification from Thinklogical granting the partner
Silver or Gold status for the calendar year.
Establishing a Marketing Development Fund
To achieve Silver or Gold status in Thinklogical’s thinkgrowth Partner Program, a partner must
agree to participate in a joint business planning meeting before February 15 each calendar year.
At that meeting, an Annual Growth Target (revenue) is agreed to by both parties. In addition,
the partner and Thinklogical will set a target for the partner’s Market Development Fund (MDF)
for the calendar year. The MDF target will be expressed in dollars. These funds will be reserved
by Thinklogical to assist the partner in their Thinklogical-related marketing activities.
The typical target for the MDF will be 1% to 2% of the partner’s Annual Growth Target. The
actual target will be negotiated by the partner and Thinklogical at the business planning
meeting. Thinklogical’s Vice President of Marketing will approve all MDF targets.
Partner accounts will be credited on an activity-by-activity basis provided the activity was preapproved by Thinklogical and the appropriate claims information is provided by the partner to
justify the claim. Unused funds will be forfeited at the end of the calendar year. The details
and guidelines for the disbursement of the MDF are provided below.
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Eligible Marketing Activities
The following are typical activities for use of the MDF: Advertising (print and online),
Broadcast/Radio, Product Catalogs, Collateral, Direct Mail, Newsletters, e-marketing, Sales
Spiffs, Seminars, Conferences, Telemarketing Campaigns, Training Programs, and
Tradeshow/Hospitality/Events. Please contact the Thinklogical Vice President of Marketing to
verify eligibility for activities not on this list.
Thinklogical Logo Use Guidelines
Logo Use Guidelines can be found within the Partner Portal at www.thinklogical.com. All cobranded communications and materials coming from Thinklogical partners must follow these
guidelines.
MDF Request Process
1. Pre-Approval. In order to qualify for reimbursement from the MDF, the partner must
gain approval for the eligible marketing activity prior to implementing the activity. The
partner should complete the pre-approval portion of the MDF Request Form, available
within the Partner Portal at www.thinklogical.com. This form should be submitted to
Thinklogical’s Vice President of Marketing.
Thinklogical will approve or disapprove of the request within five business days.
Thinklogical will make best efforts to contact the partner with any questions prior to
disapproving a request. Disapproved requests may be re-submitted with modifications
as necessary.
2. Execution. Once pre-approval is received, the partner should execute the eligible
activity. The partner is responsible for managing, driving and delivering results from all
approved campaigns. Thinklogical is only responsible for supporting the partner with
standard content, messaging and branding, unless explicitly agreed otherwise.
3. Proof of Performance (POP). Partners must provide Proof of Performance (POP) for each
marketing activity. POP is defined as paid and itemized program/campaign invoices,
samples and copies of campaign/collateral and ROI summaries and reports. POP is
required per activity and must be included as attachments with the completed MDF
Request Form (funds request portion – to be submitted when the eligible marketing
activity is 100% complete). Examples of POP are included in Table A.
4. Reimbursement. Claims for reimbursement should be submitted as soon as possible
after the activity is 100% complete. Claims cannot exceed 110% of the pre-approved
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amount. Claims should be submitted on the funds request portion of the MDF Request
Form that was used to obtain pre-approval. All associated POP must be submitted with
the MDF Request Form. The claim should be submitted to the Thinklogical Vice
President of Marketing.
Thinklogical will approve or disapprove the claim within five business days. In the case
of disapproval, Thinklogical will make best efforts to contact the partner prior to the
decision. Disapproved claims may be resubmitted with modifications.
If the claim is approved, Thinklogical will issue a credit memo for future purchases
within 30 days of the approval date.
Thinklogical will issue credit memos for up to 50% of the approved partner expenses for
an eligible marketing activity.
Table A. Proof of Performance Examples
Marketing Activity
Print Advertising
Events – customer event, trade show,
seminar
Campaigns (direct mail, email)
Other agreed upon activities
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POP required
Copy of original ad/tear sheet, paid invoice including net rate,
space and duration of ad, ROI metrics – number of sales leads
as a result of ad, value of sales forecast
Copy of original venue, show, sponsorship costs, paid invoice
including net rate, space and duration of event, ROI metrics –
number of sales leads as a result of event, value of sales
forecast
Copy of original artwork, graphics, lists, etc., costs, paid
invoice including net rate, scope and number of prospects.
ROI metrics – number of sales leads as a result of campaign,
value of sales forecast
Copy of activity receipts, attendees, leads, ROI metrics, etc.
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General Terms and Conditions
1. Advertising and marketing activities must comply with applicable laws and must be in
good taste. Claims will be rejected if, in Thinklogical’s sole discretion, the advertising
and marketing activities do not comply with applicable laws, are in poor taste or are
misleading in regard to product price, features or specifications.
2. Thinklogical will reimburse pre-approved net marketing costs only. Costs not eligible for
reimbursement include: agency fees and commissions, express mail, messengers, sales
tax, travel expenses, alcoholic beverages, equipment purchases, employee
compensation, or any other expenses not previously approved by Thinklogical.
3. Payment of claims for advertising that contains products from other manufacturers will
be based only on the actual cost of the Thinklogical related space or time devoted to
Thinklogical products.
4. Market Development Funds may be used in the media and/or materials specified in this
program including newspapers, tradeshows, marketing literature, Thinklogical
promotional materials, television, radio, local mail. All Thinklogical products featured in
printed media must meet approval requirements and recommendations regarding
inclusion of descriptive copy, illustrations, logo and trademark usage. In broadcast
media, Thinklogical must be mentioned at least as often as the reseller and other
manufacturers. The time devoted to Thinklogical must be proportionate to Thinklogical
spending. Advertising must contain Thinklogical logos, product illustrations, product
descriptions, and meet any conditions specified in the Program guidelines.
5. All approved Market Development Fund claims will be reimbursed in the form of credit
memos toward future purchases.
6. Unused funds will lapse at the end of each calendar year. Unused funds do not roll-over
to subsequent years.
7. Thinklogical reserves the right to terminate or modify this Program with 30 days written
notice.
8. Thinklogical reserves the right to immediately disqualify partners/vendors who, in
Thinklogical’s sole discretion, misuse this Program.
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