Step 1: Identifying Your Ideal Funders

Your ideal funders are the people, brands, and organizations that already have the propensity, affinity, and capacity to fund your organization. These are not strangers you have to convince from scratch. They already care about your mission. They are already aligned with what you stand for. They already have clear reasons to give. Your job is to connect to the reasons they already have.

The mistake most nonprofit leaders make is trying to pitch to everyone and hoping someone will respond. That approach is exhausting, time-consuming, and rarely effective. The truth is, when you focus on your ideal funders, you do not have to create a reason for them to give. You only have to tap into the reasons they already have.

So who are your ideal funders? They are the relationships you or your board have already invested in. They are the people, brands, or organizations that benefit from the work you do or the impact you create, directly or indirectly. They are the people and brands who would look good by associating with your organization. They are the people who have experienced the need you address and have triumphed over it. They are the people who want to do something about the problem you solve.

How to Brainstorm Your Network

At this stage, your first task is not to cold call strangers. Your first step is to uncover the gold in the network you already have. Begin by exploring your personal and professional connections with intention.

Start with relationships you have already invested in
Ask yourself: Who have you helped in the past, personally or professionally? Who have you served alongside in community projects, at work, or through your church or civic groups? Who have you supported in their ventures, businesses, or campaigns? These are people who already know you and your work, and they are often the most responsive.

Look for those with capacity and connection
Who in your network has the means to give? Who has shown generosity before, whether to you or to other causes? Who would naturally connect with your mission because of their values or life experience? People with both the means and the motivation are your highest priority.

Identify people with lived experience
Who has gone through the very challenge you are addressing and successfully overcome it? Who would see themselves reflected in the stories of the people you serve? Individuals who have experienced the need your organization addresses often have deep empathy and a strong desire to give back.

Think about personal and professional goodwill
Who owes you a favor or would gladly help if asked? Who trusts you enough to take your call or attend an event without hesitation? These relationships are often undervalued but can become some of your most reliable supporters.

Creating Your First Network List

Begin to work through these questions and create a list. Include the names, contact details, and a note on how and why each person is aligned with your mission. This list is your personal network of potential funders.

Once you have gathered this first round of names, you will start to notice trends. Certain types of people, businesses, or organizations will appear more than once. These patterns will help you expand your network strategically, focusing on those most likely to support your work.

Using AI to Expand Your Network

After completing your initial mapping, you will use targeted AI prompts to help uncover additional people, brands, organizations, and even government agencies you may not have thought of. These are entities that have a strong reason to support your mission. Using AI, you can quickly generate lists of high-potential funders, along with profiles to guide future research and outreach.

When you are ready, click the link below to run your AI research and create a profile for your different prospects you can distribute to your board, network of supporters to identify people and brands that fit these profiles. 

Here is how you transform your research and network mapping into an actionable list for outreach. 

Email Template and The Relationship Mapping Form To Send Out To Your Board Members To Map Their Network.

A Brief Guide for Founders on Customizing Your Form

• Make a Copy: Before you share this form, first create a copy for your organization. Go to the top of your Google Form, click the three dots (...), and select "Make a copy."
• Edit the AI Profiles: Scroll down to the "Mapping to AI-Researched Profiles" section (Questions 7-11).
• Replace the Placeholders: For each of these questions, you will see a text block labeled "AI Profile Example." Delete this placeholder text and paste your specific AI-generated profiles for your organization.
• Share the Form: Once you have customized all five profiles, the form is ready to be shared with your board members.