backers
Those providing funding
Backers are people who support a person, project, or cause—usually with money, but sometimes with influence or endorsement.
A political candidate has backers who fund campaigns.
A startup seeks backers to provide capital.
On crowdfunding platforms, backers pledge money to bring projects to life: The film found enough backers to begin production.
Givers of aid
- donorsPeople who give gifts
- philanthropistsGenerous supporters of good causes
- sponsorsFunders seeking promotion
- underwritersThose who assess risk
contributors · supporters · champions · advocates · guarantors · angels · givers · funders
Formal promises given
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- stretch goalsAdditional targets beyond minimums
- rewardsBenefits given for merit
- preordersPurchases before launch
perks · tiers · funding goal · updates · creators · projects · platform · community
People who back something
- donorsPeople who give gifts
- bundlersThose who package together
- PACCampaign contribution pooler
- super PACUnlimited-donation political organization
campaign finance · lobbyists · constituency · base · grassroots · coalition · endorsers · party
Those who support causes
- championsContest winners, top performers
- proponentsSupporters of a position
- alliesCooperative partners united together
- endorsersThose who publicly approve
boosters · promoters · defenders · sympathizers · collaborators · helpers · assistants · cheerleaders
Startup equity investors
- angel investorsPrivate early-stage business backers
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- stakeholdersThose with investment in outcome
- shareholdersOwners of company stock
portfolio · returns · profit · seed funding · valuation · exit · ROI · pitch
benefactors
Givers of aid
- donorsPeople who give gifts
- philanthropistsGenerous supporters of good causes
- sponsorsFunders seeking promotion
underwriters · contributors · supporters · champions · advocates · guarantors · angels · givers · funders · enablers
pledges
Formal promises given
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- stretch goalsAdditional targets beyond minimums
- rewardsBenefits given for merit
preorders · perks · tiers · funding goal · updates · creators · projects · platform · community · early adopters
supporters
People who back something
super PAC · campaign finance · lobbyists · constituency · base · grassroots · coalition · endorsers · party · fundraisers
advocates
Those who support causes
- championsContest winners, top performers
- proponentsSupporters of a position
- alliesCooperative partners united together
endorsers · boosters · promoters · defenders · sympathizers · collaborators · helpers · assistants · cheerleaders · enthusiasts
venture capitalists
Startup equity investors
- angel investorsPrivate early-stage business backers
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- stakeholdersThose with investment in outcome
shareholders · portfolio · returns · profit · seed funding · valuation · exit · ROI · pitch · term sheet
- devoteesdevotee, devotees, adherent, adherents, follower
- supportersfan, patron, supporters, ally, advocates
- patronagepolitical patronage, patrons, benefactors, sponsors, donors
- backerssupporters, sponsors, patrons, funders, donors
- contributorscontributors, collaborators, helpers, supporters, volunteers
- followersfollowers, conformist, disciples, devotees, adherents
backersopponents
Those who compete against
critics · detractors · antagonists · adversaries · enemies
- backed upReversed or copied
- backed downRetreated from a position
- backed outWithdrew from commitment
- backed offWithdrew from confrontation
- backed awayMoved gradually rearward
- backed intoMoved rearward into