Your first donors probably won’t be strangers who discover your nonprofit through an ad or social media post. They’re more likely to be people who already care deeply about the problem you’re trying to solve. The key is finding those people, building trust, and starting conversations that can eventually grow into meaningful partnerships.

When your nonprofit is brand new, finding your first donors can feel overwhelming. But your first supporters probably aren’t strangers. They’re people who already know you, trust you, and believe in what you’re building. Here’s a practical way to identify those people and start your first fundraising conversations.