Are you a conservation finance entrepreneur? Do you have an idea that can leverage the power of finance for conservation?
The CFA Incubator empowers innovators to turn bold ideas into practical, scalable conservation finance solutions that deliver lasting, positive impacts for nature and people.
In its fourth round, the Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) Incubator will select 16 projects developing innovative finance mechanisms for conservation. Eight of these projects will receive grant funding of up to USD25,000 to advance their work. Participants will join a vibrant global network and gain access to expert mentorship, targeted training, and peer learning to strengthen their business models, partnerships, and long-term financial sustainability.
The CFA Incubator supports the creation of new and scalable approaches to conservation finance, not just conservation enterprises. We welcome diverse initiatives, from ventures and financial products that can generate a return, to policy, regulatory, or non-profit finance mechanisms that create enabling conditions for sustainable conservation funding. Learn more about conservation finance mechanisms at: www.conservationfinance.info
This program focuses on idea-stage and early-stage initiatives led by entrepreneurs or organizations committed to advancing their solutions through time, effort, and early investment. All projects must propose a novel, finance-based approach to a conservation challenge that delivers measurable conservation outcomes or sustained financing. Concepts may originate from any sector (public, private, or civil society), and can be proposed by CFA members, partner organizations, independent entrepreneurs, or institutions. Projects may or may not be profit-generating but must demonstrate a credible pathway to long-term financial sustainability or conservation impact.
Each selected project team will participate in an intensive training and mentorship program designed to strengthen business planning, financial structuring, and implementation readiness. Expected outputs from the Incubator may include a business plan, feasibility study, financial model, investor pitch deck, or implementation roadmap positioning the project for future funding and scale.
Application details
Full Proposal Deadline: December 20, 2025
The CFA Incubator application process is designed to help innovators refine their ideas and submit strong proposals through two concurrent pathways: the Concept Feedback Window and the Open Call for Proposals.
Through the Concept Feedback Window, proponents can submit a short concept to receive rapid, constructive feedback, either written comments or a brief 30-minute discussion session. This window is open until November 21, 2025, with feedback provided on a rolling basis through December 5, 2025, helping applicants strengthen their ideas before submitting full proposals.
The Open Call for Proposals runs concurrently, allowing applicants to submit full proposals directly, without participating in the Feedback Window. The deadline for full proposals for both windows is December 20, 2025.
All submissions undergo an initial review before a carefully curated shortlist is passed to the CFA Incubator Technical Review Committee, a panel of invited experts drawn from the global CFA membership. This rigorous process ensures that every project is evaluated for innovation, feasibility, and potential conservation impact.
Following careful deliberation, the committee will select 16 projects to join the Incubator, with 8 projects receiving grant funding and all projects benefiting from tailored mentorship, training, and access to a global network of conservation finance experts. The new cohort will be announced in mid-March 2026, kicking off an exciting year of collaboration, learning, and transformative impact for nature and people.
