52 DAYS TO EXTRAORDINARY
I'm in. Are you?
Dear Impact Star,
This is our 52nd edition of Find Funding Faster.
It's also your invitation to transformation.
What If...
52 days could change everything?
You went all-in on the one thing that matters most?
You took care of your health along the way?
Rewind to This Morning in Durham
At this networking event, something profound happened. Anthony Rotoli — a CEO who has sold multiple software companies looked me in the eye, and said:
"An imposter is someone who doesn't want do the work.
Imposter syndrome? That's different."
That hit me like lightning because....
…Radical honesty, I’m struggling with imposter syndrome right now.
I say I'm building an ecosystem to expedite your path to capital.
But here's the raw and honest truth — I haven't fully done the work yet.
Yes, Climate Week was incredible. I had so many great conversations.
Then? My back gave out. (Yard work. Not even kidding!)
Momentum? Gone.
Until now…
The 52-Day Sprint Begins
Starting Monday, November 4th, I'm going all-in. 52 days. Zero excuses.
My public commitment: I will speak to 52 funders and ecosystem super nodes about their hair-on-fire needs. No expectations. Just 100% commitment to listening.
Your Invitation to Experience…
The Magic of Compounded Focus
What if we made the next 52 days count for everything?
The Structure:
Kick-Off: Monday, November 4th
Strategic Breaks: Thanksgiving & Christmas/New Year's
Grand Finale: December 31st
Your Power Focus:
One Health Goal (Your vessel for impact)
One Work Goal (Your mountain to move)
One Fun Reward (Your celebration waiting)
The 52 Day Accountability Bubble
Weekly Success Architecture via WhatsApp/Email:
Sunday Night: Goal Setting & Strategy
Wednesday: Recalibration & Recommitment
Friday: Celebration & Integration
The Investment
🌱 Just $48 for 52 Days (That's 92¢ per day - can’t even get a cup of coffee for that these days)
BONUS: Celebration + Strategy Call upon completion
This Is Your Moment If:
You're tired of good intentions without follow-through (like me)
You know accountability is your rocket fuel
You're ready to finally do the thing (like I am) and tired of procrastinating
This Isn't For You If:
Your plate is already overflowing with 999 things
You're still unclear on your direction (book a clarity call with me first)
Here’s what Siobhan wrote on LinkedIn about our call:
Why 52 Days Works So Well
Long enough to create change…
But short enough to go all-in.
And, the perfect way to end 2024 with a bang, not a whimper.
Ready to Sprint?
Reply with "I'M IN!" I’ll send you the payment link for the $48.
I'm doing this either way. But I think it would be more fun to do it together!
Don’t pick 10 goals for health and 10 goals for work.
Pick ONE. Just ONE.
Ask yourself: "What ONE thing — if I focused on it for 52 days — would make everything else easier or unnecessary?" (Credit: The ONE Thing).
For me, it’s the 52 conversations with 52 funders and ecosystem super nodes.
What is it for you?
Frequently Sparked Joy (Instead of FAQ)
Neesha, for $48, can you guarantee results? No — but I can guarantee you'll have clarity, momentum, and a path forward, if you focus like a laser beam on 1 Health Goal and 1 Work Goal for 52 weeks.
Just ask my body that's 45 pounds lighter and it all started with 10,000 steps a day in October 2022. If you had asked me before I started showing up for myself consistently, rain or shine, hot or cold, feeling like it or not, I would have said: No.
But consistency and focus effort one one goal compounds over time.
Why 92¢ a day? Because transformation should be accessible no matter your budget… but not free because I want you to make a conscious commitment to yourself. (Less than an NYC Uber ride during Climate Week!)
Does this include my consulting or advisory services? No…. all I will be doing is checking in with you to make sure you set your goals for the week and then check in with you to see how it went. I don’t know about you — but when I’m being held accountable by a specific date, I get things done, and don’t procrastinate!
My friend, Dave Nesbitt affectionately called me General Patton during our time in the Strategy practice at IBM :-)
If you would like me to coach and mentor you 1:1 throughout this sprint, I do offer that to a select few. Here’s what people about this 1:1 level of support.
Warmest,
Neesha
P.S. What's your fun reward? I'm choosing between vocal training and improv classes. Any thoughts?
P.P.S. Thanks David Witzel for editing as usual!
FUNDING ROUNDUP
Global
For Island Nation Entrepreneurs….
The Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants, funded by the Waitt Foundation, offer up to $20,000 for projects supporting sustainable fishing and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in island nations. Priority is given to locations within the Blue Prosperity Coalition (Azores, Bermuda, Micronesia, Fiji, Maldives, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu). Applicants must be affiliated with an NGO or academic institution, and projects should last up to 6 months. Applications are reviewed monthly, with funding distributed within two weeks of approval.
UBS Global Wealth Management and Rockefeller Asset Management are rolling out the Oceans Engagement Fund, targeting 50 small and mid-cap public equities in ocean health sectors such as wastewater treatment, plastic recycling, and sustainable aquaculture. Open to European investors, the fund is part of a broader push to raise €13 billion across 52 blue economy funds. The fund aims to generate competitive returns through shareholder engagement, driving both ocean health impact and profitability. To date, 164 funds have raised €45 billion to support life below water, with the largest contributions from foundations, corporations, and family offices. Source: "Ride the Blue Wave: UBS Launches €13B Ocean Impact Fund for European Investors:”
United States
The USDA Forest Service has opened three grants totaling $34 million to support wood product innovation, renewable energy, and forest restoration projects. Key programs include Wood Innovations, Community Wood Energy, and Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance, with applications due by mid-December 2024. Eligible applicants range from for-profits to nonprofits and local governments.
The USDA awarded $33.5 million in grants to 113 projects across 43 states to boost local and regional food systems, supporting small producers and promoting community access to fresh food. The funding is distributed through programs like the Farmers Market Promotion, Local Food Promotion, and Regional Food System Partnerships, which strengthen farmer-consumer connections, expand food distribution, and improve food supply chain efficiency. Connect with the grantees, and position yourself as a partner to receive some of this money — or for the next round of this grant!
The USDA launched a $15 million Organic Dairy Product Promotion program to expand access to organic dairy products in schools and youth programs, enhancing healthy dairy consumption and supporting small organic dairy producers. Four organizations will lead region-specific projects, increasing organic dairy in schools and building regional partnerships. This initiative is part of broader USDA efforts to support local food systems and promote climate-smart agriculture.
Did you know — the XPRIZE is 30 years old? The organization had an event featured a fireside chat with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Peter H. Diamandis on driving future innovation, and a discussion with Wendy Schmidt and Anousheh Ansari on ocean conservation technology to celebrate the milestone.
It got me thinking — what do you’ll think of the XPrize and prizes like that?
Helpful or a distraction?
How can prizes be structured better or are they already optimized?
The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has launched a new initiative to invest up to $5 million in programs that empower youth in Washington state through leadership training, civic engagement, and youth organizing. Grants of up to $500,000 will be awarded for programs meeting these goals, with a focus on youth-informed and community-based efforts, particularly in underserved areas. Since this foundation has funded environmental causes before, an environmental twist on a youth program may be a great way to win this grant! Applications are due by November 7, 2024.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Golden Field Office has announced a funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0003415) for U.S. Wave Energy Open Water Testing. This initiative aims to accelerate wave energy technology adoption through a $112.5 million cooperative agreement program. It focuses on testing and validating wave energy converters across distributed, community, and utility applications. The application deadline is January 30, 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering a funding opportunity (EPA-OW-OGWDW-24-04) to provide training and technical assistance to small public water systems, aiming to improve water quality and ensure safe drinking water. With a total program funding of $30.7 million, awards range from $1.25 million to $13 million. The application deadline is November 25, 2024.
The Department of Transportation’s Low Carbon Transportation Materials Program offers funding to support the use of construction materials with lower greenhouse gas emissions for transportation projects. The program aims to increase adoption of low-carbon materials, promote environmental justice, and support workforce development. Up to $800 million in grants are available, with no cost-sharing requirement. Eligible applicants include local governments, public authorities, and MPOs. The closing date for applications is November 25, 2024.
Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY25): The Department of Agriculture is offering up to $1,000,000 in grants to eligible organizations for technical assistance in managing solid waste and reducing water pollution in rural areas. Applications are open until December 31, 2024.
Europe
EIT Food offers up to €1.5m in equity funding for EU agrifood startups that are alumni or participants in their flagship entrepreneurship programs, aiming to drive sustainable and resilient food system innovations.
Only Because The Lawyers Made Us:
Impact Stars and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
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Here’s a link to all the previous issues of Find Funding Faster. If you don’t know what to pick for the 52 Day Accountability Bubble, find one action item in a previous issue, and focus on it for 52 days.
💌 Made with Love in Raleigh, NC for Systems Changers and Impact Innovators Everywhere.
A request:
If there are specific funders or ecosystem super nodes that you think I should speak to during my 52 Day sprint, I would love to know! I want this research to serve YOU. I only get to do what I do — because you do what you do.
So THANK YOU.
