Next Steps on Climate Projects: How to Structure So the Money Can Reach You
Next Steps on Climate Projects:How to Structure So the Money Can Reach You
A 60-minute working session on choosing a structure that unlocks the funding you need to do the work that matters.
So, what comes after the project launch? How do you move from pilot to operational funding?
The 2026 funding landscape is complex. In this focused 60-minute session, we'll break down the pathways to structure your organization for maximum funding impact, clearly and effectively.
This workshop is tailored specifically for small, medium, and emerging climate or community-driven organizations who are trying to navigate our challenging funding ecosystem and determine the right path forward.
Reaching the formal structure stage with a climate project is an achievement,but it can be overwhelming too.
We want to reduce the noise and empower leaders building projects that matter. If you've run a pilot, built a proof of concept, or earned real community partners, you've already done the part that can't be outsourced. Choosing a formal structure for your project, whether that is an LLC, a fiscal sponsorship, a nonprofit or some mix of all three, will allow you to uplevel your work and access the funding that you need to do important work.
We'll walk through three main pathways for structuring your organization. Whether you choose fiscal sponsorship, a business, or a nonprofit, becoming a formal entity is key to unlocking institutional, non-dilutive funding. Simply put, it is what lets the money reach you. We will show you how to determine the right structure for your project by starting with the money you actually want in the next twelve months, and work backward to the structure that opens that door.
You'll leave with:
A clear read on what fiscal sponsorship, 501(c)(3), and for-profit each open up
Key questions to ask when determining which path is actually yours
How organizations move between structures
Examples from projects at different stages
A one-page worksheet to take home with you to help you understand what structure is the best fit for you
Who this is for: Founders, executive directors, and project leads in their first two years — especially anyone who's been putting off fundraising because the structure question isn't settled. Climate-focused, though we both work across environmental and community health and the same rules apply.
Hosts:
Casey O'Brien — Casey is an independent communications and fundraising consultant with 10 years of experience crafting narratives and strategies that allow climate projects to succeed. She specializes in work where business development, marketing, and nonprofit development meet. Casey has spent nearly a decade working in climate in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors— she is a Climatebase Cohort 7 Fellow and have worked across climate risk analytics, subsurface infrastructure mapping, renewable energy, and climate advocacy.
Beck Hayes — Beck is cofounder and Executive Director of The Atharii Collective, a social enterprise that helps move private capital to climate and social impact organizations. Since 2024, Atharii has moved and managed over $2.5 million for community-led climate and health initiatives. Beck advises both funders and mission-driven ventures, with over a decade of experience spanning social entrepreneurship, international development, grant management, and the blue economy. Beck is also a Climatebase Community Facilitator who leads Fellow sessions on ideation and project management.