Discover What Funders Really Want:
Position Your Organization to Achieve Financial Sustainability
Most nonprofits lead with their stories and their mission.
But funders — corporations, foundations, and high-net-worth donors — lead with their goals.
When you learn to speak their language, fundraising conversations become easier, faster, and far more successful.
At Customer Discovery Pros, we have The Evidence to Prove It.
But funders — corporations, foundations, and high-net-worth donors — lead with their goals.
When you learn to speak their language, fundraising conversations become easier, faster, and far more successful.
At Customer Discovery Pros, we have The Evidence to Prove It.
"Now, I can speak the language of funders."
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Alimatu Dimonekene MBE
Founder, A Girl At A Time UK, Sierra Leone Since I’ve worked with Randy, I have gained so much insight into how NGOs like mine can bridge the gap between my vision and activities advocating for women and better health outcomes - and speaking the language of funders who want to make a difference. Randy is an incredible mentor, and his commitment to helping me succeed is very motivating and inspiring. I’ve become more confident - and even though I am the founder of an NGO, I now see that I can be entrepreneurial too! Through my collaboration with Randy, I’m learning the true importance of being investor-ready. By embracing the proven method of customer discovery, I’ve had many “Eureka” moments! |
Alimatu Dimonekene MBE, Human Rights Activist
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stop guessing what funders want
Many Executive Directors, Fundraising Managers and Program Managers:
The result?
Missed opportunities and unpredictable cash flow. And valuable relationships left unrealized.
- Send out proposals that don’t quite connect.
- Spend time chasing leads that never turn into relationships.
- Struggle to bridge the gap between their mission and the funder’s priorities.
The result?
Missed opportunities and unpredictable cash flow. And valuable relationships left unrealized.
Talk to Funders Like Successful Businesses
Talk to Their Customers
Customer Discovery is a professional and structured way to learn what your stakeholders actually value.
Instead of pitching first, you ask thoughtful questions to understand:
It’s how innovative companies build products people want — and it works just as powerfully in the nonprofit world.
Instead of pitching first, you ask thoughtful questions to understand:
- What success looks like for them,
- What challenges they’re trying to solve, and
- How your organization can help them achieve their goals.
It’s how innovative companies build products people want — and it works just as powerfully in the nonprofit world.
What you'll Learn
In our practical training and coaching, you’ll learn how to:
✅ Identify your “funders as customers” — from corporations to individual donors.
✅ Ask questions that uncover their real needs and motivations.
✅ Translate insights into winning proposals and partnership pitches.
✅ Speak the language of business and impact, not just mission.
You’ll walk away with tools to make every funder conversation more strategic and productive.
✅ Identify your “funders as customers” — from corporations to individual donors.
✅ Ask questions that uncover their real needs and motivations.
✅ Translate insights into winning proposals and partnership pitches.
✅ Speak the language of business and impact, not just mission.
You’ll walk away with tools to make every funder conversation more strategic and productive.
Why nonprofit leaders love this approach
Our Customer Discovery Skills coaching and training gives you the knowledge and skills to be successful. You and your team will:
- Build trust and credibility with corporate and major-gift donors.
- Strengthen partnerships through alignment, not persuasion.
- Design programs and messages that funders want to invest in.
- Enable fundraising to feel more like collaboration — and less like asking for money.
- Successfully negotiate and close requests
Your next step
🎯 Schedule a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call
Let’s talk about how you can use Customer Discovery to open doors, build relationships, and attract more aligned funders.
(PS. There's no cost. No pressure. Just clarity on your next funding opportunity.)
Randy Shawn Fisher is a global expert in Customer Discovery and Market Research who helps nonprofits, social enterprises, and mission-driven leaders connect with funders and partners through understanding — not assumptions.
He has trained and coached organizations to use discovery techniques to engage corporations, government agencies, and high-net-worth donors — turning conversations into lasting relationships.
Randy is an entrepreneur, and has recently launched a startup - AppreciationStoriies.com
He is also the co-author (with John Fraser) of a Customer Discovery Handbook for Academic Tech Transfer Professionals and University IP / Commercialization Managers, for the World Intellectual Property Organization. John Fraser, the former President of the Association of University Technology Managers,
Randy written many articles about Customer Discovery, including one about social enterprises for Les Nouvelles. He has also facilitated a strategic partnership and project funding between Avaaz and A Girl At a Time on a global campaign and petition (with 500,000 signatures) to advocate for a ban on FGM in Sierra Leone, and mobilize on-the-ground activists. Read the case study.
📍 Serving nonprofits in the US and Canada
📞 +1 (908) 242-6330
🌐 https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshawnfisher/
He has trained and coached organizations to use discovery techniques to engage corporations, government agencies, and high-net-worth donors — turning conversations into lasting relationships.
Randy is an entrepreneur, and has recently launched a startup - AppreciationStoriies.com
He is also the co-author (with John Fraser) of a Customer Discovery Handbook for Academic Tech Transfer Professionals and University IP / Commercialization Managers, for the World Intellectual Property Organization. John Fraser, the former President of the Association of University Technology Managers,
Randy written many articles about Customer Discovery, including one about social enterprises for Les Nouvelles. He has also facilitated a strategic partnership and project funding between Avaaz and A Girl At a Time on a global campaign and petition (with 500,000 signatures) to advocate for a ban on FGM in Sierra Leone, and mobilize on-the-ground activists. Read the case study.
📍 Serving nonprofits in the US and Canada
📞 +1 (908) 242-6330
🌐 https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshawnfisher/
about Randy Shawn Fisher
We are grateful for assistance from:
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