I met with the regional director of one of the most prestigious and well-known non-profit international businesses, and we had the chance to start a conversation about investors for the field. The non-profit leader explained that two of their investors were very frustrated and wanted to end the partnership with their business during the same week. I couldn’t miss the chance to ask about the reasons for this situation, with investors eager to work with them. Let me tell you this: it’s not hard to know how to find investors for your non-profit business. The important part is to keep them after you see those critical people interested in your industry.
I have written many guides about how to find investors for non-profit businesses and what not to do to start an effective conversation with a potential investor. Check out what discourages investors from giving you the money you want.
Instead, I will tell you more about how you can actually keep those investors after they have given you their cash.
What I am about to tell you is based on what I have seen investors fight about with non-profit leads during their partnerships. To maintain a sustainable non-profit business, you must understand how to keep these investors happy. Unhappy investors mean a one-time fund or grant.
How To Find and Keep Investors For Non-Profit Businesses?
I will tell you what the regional director explained and the main complaints their investors brought to the table. I believe these are very common when it comes to driving away investors after a short intervention.
Underdelivering
The first thing that can make investors go crazy is not doing what you agreed to do. Of course, things come up, and the implementation changes. However, you have to keep them on board all the time. Please don’t change the plan without giving them a heads-up. Communicate in an obvious and transparent way to ensure all parties are satisfied. I was engaged in many projects that were not meeting deadlines or milestones. However, with clear lines of communication, everyone was happy, and the team handled the project deliverables later just fine.
Understaffing
This is a widespread mistake that leaders of non-profit businesses make. Managers in non-profit businesses plan to add salaries for staff members to implement the investors’ plans. And does this really happen? Most of the time, no! And guess what? They will eventually find out, and they will get outraged. Please don’t fool your investors. They expect the staff they paid for their salaries to be recruited to do a good job.
Not Involving them
When you offer your investors a first-hand look at the activities or the events their money is paying for, they become more interested and intrigued to participate and give more. However, when you do the opposite, they start to forget about your partnership together and not put you on their next year’s investment possibilities.
Not hearing them out
Yes, of course, you own whatever you plan to do with the investment money.
But when they tell you their opinion during your check-ins and coordination meetups, you have to consider that. They want things to be happening the way they want to. Not addressing their concerns and questions multiple times drives them away and encourages them to look for others who will better manage their plans.
Keep The Investors You Have Happy – This is How To Find Investors For Non-Profit Businesses
Guess what? Investors know each other and speak to each other.
When you do really well in your partnership with an investor, they invite another and another. Investors attract each other and share a lot of interests. So, remember that when you are making one investor happy and satisfied with the deliverables, you call on a whole line who will soon be interested in your business.
As you know by now, Albusi’s goal is to provide entrepreneurs with all they need to start their own businesses. RCTs is one service that provides you with the main essential sections for your pitch deck or business plan. There are many downloadable examples available on the website. Templates give you an idea to write your elevator pitch, problem statement, the solutions that you are proposing, financial projections, and investment asks for your non-profits.
In addition, the Albusi team can craft a one-of-a-kind non-profit business pitch deck, another exceptional service to entrepreneurs that you should check out. The linked page will tell you more about what our previous clients say about this service. So, do not hesitate to ask if you want a pitch deck designed or written by Albusi.
Wrapping Up – A Summary Of How To Find Investors for Non-Profit Businesses (and Keep Them!)
These are the main guidelines I found most worthy of sharing with you to help you keep your investors (one was related to finding more investors, too!). You need the money to keep your non-profit business up and running. I have also introduced you to some of our professional services that can always help you start and grow your non-profit business.
In addition, you have excellent pitch deck templates to plan an impactful nonprofit business for your community and build this on a solid foundation through our free store.
And, of course, if you’re out of time and want a consultant to help you get this right, you can always contact one of our freelancers. They will help you with everything you need for your nonprofit business and help you pitch it to others, too.
I highly recommend that.
Meet The Author Of This Article
I’m Jenny Ayman, a project manager in the development field with specific knowledge and experience in capacity building and entrepreneurship programs. I aspire to transfer the hands-on experience I gain in my professional career through writing.
Also, if you need help planning your business, I recommend checking out some of our freelancer’s business plans or pitch decks!
