Introduction to Conservation Finance

This session will cover elements of finance with an emphasis on how investments and financial structures can be used for conservation. The scale and complexity of the environmental and social challenges we face today require solutions that are collaborative, cross-sector, entrepreneurial, innovative, and that draw on all kinds of capital: philanthropic, private investment, loans, and debt. In this session, we’ll break down barriers between disciplines, between philanthropy and investing, between nonprofit and for-profit, and explore a number of the opportunities available at the intersection of these spaces.

Download the Cash Flow Template: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qm9VktX9hIBASj4FrAaX-lwbwHVlnREh/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113839906205245951172&rtpof=true&sd=true

Follow-Up Resources

While I don't have all the answers on where to seek help from financial experts for specific project analysis, one area you may want to explore is with corporate volunteer programs. A few that I am aware of off-hand are the following links, but I am sure there are many more.

Global Pro Bono – PYXERA Global

The Service Corps

Another idea would be to look at non-profit or conservation incubator programs that may be able to link you up with the expertise that is needed. I have provided a link to on such program below.

https://www.silverstrand.capital/the-biodiversity-accelerator

We also talked about where fellows may be able to learn more about investment principals, financial statements and the like. My suggestion would be to start with some self guided lessons on a learning program such as Khan Academy. They have course and tutorials in so many areas of finance such as breakeven analysis, different investment vehicles, present value and more. I would recommend starting off with the basics and growing from there.

https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/core-finance#interest-tutorial

There were a few fellows asking for more in-depth models to analyze their projects/organizations. For those, I would suggest going to a credible website like the corporate finance institute and downloading the template that best fits what they are looking for. Again, it will be best if they have someone experienced working with them on it or have taking some online coursework to understand the model a bit.

https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/templates/excel-modeling/