Backer

n.kind, resilientprofessional

What it means

A person or organization that commits money, influence, or practical support.

Reach for it when identifying someone whose support helps an effort proceed

A local backer paid for the first year of the youth orchestra.

everyday
supporter
approval or help may be moral, practical, or public
not when Supporter does not promise money or decisive material help.
warm
advocate
public endorsement and persuasion are the valuable contribution
not when An advocate may never supply the resources that make a project possible.
professional
funder
the contribution is specifically financial
not when Funder omits advocacy, introductions, and other practical support.
professional
investor
capital is supplied with an expectation of return
not when Investor is wrong when the support is a gift or carries no ownership interest.
professional
sponsor
funding is given in exchange for formal association or visibility
not when Sponsor suggests an arranged relationship that a quiet backer may not have.
formal
patron
a person sustains artistic or charitable work over time
not when Patron sounds traditional and is a poor fit for a commercial proposal.

financial backer
The museum found a financial backer for the conservation work.
early backer
An early backer introduced the cooperative to its first large customer.
loyal backer
Every loyal backer stayed with the campaign through the delayed permit.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.