A thorough and honest market analysis will help you (and potential investors) gain clarity on what obstacles might present themselves and how they’ll be addressed. If your target market is rife with nature-based programs nearly identical to what you plan to offer, it could be tough to convince banks, private investors, and/or potential donors to spend their money on a redundant program; however, if you show stakeholders that you’ve done your homework and you’re confident about how to market yourself as a unique solution to the needs of your target customer, it’ll improve the likelihood of gaining support.

Viewing like-minded individuals and programs as competition may feel counterintuitive to your philosophy. In this context, it’s used to simply help compare your services and reassure your stakeholders that you’re offering something unique to your community.