Investor Qualification
Investor qualification is confirming mandate fit, capacity, decision authority, and timing before treating an allocator as real pipeline.
Definition
Definition Investor qualification is the process of determining whether an allocator is a realistic prospect for a specific strategy. In family office fundraising, qualification typically includes four core checks: (1) mandate fit, (2) capacity and sizing feasibility, (3) decision authority and routing, and (4) timing and process readiness. Context Family offices can look similar on the surface but behave very differently in practice. Some allocate systematically to funds; others rarely commit. Some are CIO-led; others are principal-led. Qualification prevents the common mistake of treating every visible family office as a likely allocator. It also avoids relationship damage caused by pushing misfit strategies. Why It Matters Qualification is the fastest path to better response rates and fewer wasted cycles. It improves list quality, reduces outreach noise, and helps teams focus on prospects where a “yes” is structurally possible. Key Takeaways Qualification separates real pipeline from noise Core checks: fit, capacity, authority, timing Prevents mis-targeting and reputation risk Improves efficiency and conversion in family office outreach