Rally the Team 
What if your path to nature finance didn’t start with investors or grants, but with a map, a conversation, and a drawing board? As shared in the previous Reader, many local and community conservation organizations are eager to explore sustainable finance but are unsure of where to begin. This START guide builds on that insight. It’s […]
As shared in the previous Reader, many local and community conservation organizations are eager to explore sustainable finance but are unsure of where to begin. This START guide builds on that insight.
It’s not a guide to carbon markets or trust fund structuring – it’s a practical starting point that brings clarity to the questions that matter first:
That’s the idea behind START: Getting your nature finance journey started, using this guide developed by the Sustainable Finance Coalition for local and community conservation actors.
“This is about mindset, not mechanics”, says Candice Stevens, the founder and CEO of the Coalition. “We wanted to create something that’s grounded, empowering, and accessible, without dumbing anything down.”
There’s no single path to unlocking the finance you need!
But a great place to start is by understanding your place, people, pressures, purpose, proposition, and partnerships — this helps you see where you are now, and what’s possible next.
We encourage your organization to aim to become what we call a “Doer at scale.” That simply means a community-rooted group that’s ready and able to lead, one that has the people, credibility, and systems in place to shape and secure the kinds of funding solutions that really fit your needs.
This guide is written for the Doers on the ground: local organizations, grassroots teams, networks and even individuals working across landscapes, seascapes, forests, wetlands, or wildlife corridors.
Sustainable finance isn’t about chasing money. It’s about having a clearer mindset, being ready to explore new options, and having access to the right-fit tools that match your reality. We know it can be overwhelming to come across terms like “blended finance” or “impact investing” when you’re already juggling complex programs, technical jargon, and competing priorities. You’re not alone in feeling unsure about where or how to begin.
This workbook helps uncomplicate and strengthen your START by addressing three things:
Confidence: Building confidence in your place-based context, knowledge and capacity.
Readiness: Simple, grounded exercises to help you map your context and prepare for the Finance Model, namely the FIND, DESIGN and MOBILISE of finance solutions.
You don’t need perfect data or years of experience to get started. Just a few hours, a bit of honesty, and the willingness to explore what matters most. Once you’ve captured that, you’ll be ready to explore the “how” of finance that truly fits you.
Yes. Nature finance isn’t only for large organizations. There are many small-grant, partnership, or blended finance programs explicitly designed for grassroots organizations. An intense START phase of knowing your PLACE, PEOPLE, PRESSURES, PURPOSE and PROPOSITION makes you attractive for PARTNERSHIPS.
You’re not expected to be a financial advisory company. Nature finance is a mindset supported by practical, do-it-yourself tools, such as those found in this guide and the Coalition Finance Model. Think of finance as another learning process. Use what you already know, add some tools to document, and build upon it from there.
Finance should support, not distract from, your conservation goals. This guide begins by grounding you in mission-aligned planning – refer to the Maliasili Strategic Planning Workbook (available here) if needed. If a finance idea doesn’t serve your core work or values, you don’t pursue it. The goal is to be clear on your ‘why,’ then choose the “how”, i.e., the finance solution that fits that purpose.
Yes. Any change involves risk. Many Doers have found that structured listening, testing, and transparent planning cut risk and build credibility. You can identify and manage risk by:
You don’t need big budgets or long timelines to START your understand phase. With just a few hours and a small team, you can map your context. Most exercises can be accommodated within regular planning time. Later stages may require a bit more of time investment, but progress starts with clarity.
Traditional grants and nature finance aren’t the same. This work encompasses creative pathways such as eco-tourism, carbon income, fee systems, tax incentives, and blended models – many of which are designed to be durable, community-led, and place-based.
Understanding your context helps you choose what fits best. Remember:
Feeling unsure? Give it a try before closing the door! This guide was made for you: practical, grounded, and ready to guide your next steps. Once you reflect on these questions, you’ll be prepared to deepen your context mapping and move toward FIND, using the Coalition’s tried-and-tested Finance Model.
Your first moves: a START Checklist
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What you’ve done By completing these, you have:
You now have a strong foundation to explore what finance solutions fit your goals, values, and capacity. And you’re ready to move into FIND.
Learn about the Coalition Finance Model here and start exploring the Finance Solutions Inventory here.
We’d love to hear from you
Has this guide been helpful to your work? Let us know, and if it’s sparked ideas or next steps, we’d love to explore them with you.
The Sustainable Finance Coalition is offering office hours for community conservation organizations interested in having deeper discussions on this. If you’d love to connect, please reach out to Mariam Umarji, Senior Sustainable Finance Coordinator here or Justin Smith, Head of Strategy, here.
About the Sustainable Finance Coalition
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