Earth Alliance Joins the Convening Power of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation with the Reach and Expertise of Emerson Collective and Global Wildlife Conservation
Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth to Co-Chair New Partnership
LOS ANGELES – July 2, 2019 – Earth Alliance, a new organization to help address the urgent threats to our planet’s life support systems, launched today – born out of the shared passion of its founding co-chairs: environmental activist and Academy Award®-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio, businesswoman and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, and investor and philanthropist Brian Sheth.
Launched in response to a growing climate crisis and staggering loss of biodiversity threatening the stability of life on Earth, the Alliance marks a shared commitment to addressing these intertwined threats. Climate data from recent decades has shown sharp increases in natural disasters, worsening food security for tens of millions of people, rapid species extinctions, increases in community displacement, ocean acidification, and human deaths – caused or exacerbated by the destruction of our natural world.
The Alliance convenes the communicating power of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) with the talent and capacities of Emerson Collective and Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) – marking the next stage of LDF’s growth as its staff and operations fold under Earth Alliance to power its future. It will be led by a newly appointed, independent management team of globally renowned scientists and conservationists who will work globally to protect ecosystems and wildlife, ensure climate justice, support renewable energy, and secure indigenous rights to the benefit of all life on Earth.
“I am incredibly proud of the impact my foundation has had over the last 20 years by supporting nearly 200 projects from 132 different organizations across climate science, marine and land conservation, critical species preservation and indigenous rights,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. “Today marks the next step in the evolution of LDF as it fully merges under the new Earth Alliance management and grant-making framework. Laurene and Brian are incredible civic leaders who share my passion and understanding of the urgency and scale of the challenges we face. I am proud to partner with them to form this new larger, nimble platform that shares resources and expertise while identifying the best programs to drive real change around the planet.”
Since its founding in 1998, LDF has provided more than $100 million in grants to projects in all five oceans and across all seven continents. Earth Alliance is a vehicle for LDF and its partners to increase this level of impact just as science shows time running out before the worst effects of our changing climate become irreversible.
LDF, Emerson and GWC have independently built their platforms across the interrelated challenges of climate justice, supporting indigenous rights, advocating for environmental conservation, and protecting biodiversity. By combining the talents, resources and expertise of these organizations, the Alliance will accelerate these efforts and scale its shared programs and priorities.
“All we know and love is threatened by the climate crisis, and each of us must ask ourselves and one another what more we can do to protect the planet we share,” said Laurene Powell Jobs. “Earth Alliance is part of our answer. I am proud to join with Leo and Brian to make a habitable Earth possible for future generations. Leo is one of the most uniquely gifted communicators of our time, and with Earth Alliance, we will harness those gifts to inspire people, regardless of age, race, or geography, to stand up as leaders for our natural world and safeguard our imperiled planet.”
As a bigger, more powerful philanthropic force, Earth Alliance will effect greater change by engaging in educational and cultural efforts including providing grants and educational opportunities, building capacity, engaging indigenous and local communities, and working with grassroots organizations and individuals in the places most affected by biodiversity loss and climate change. The Alliance will also fund large-scale campaigns, documentary films, third-party independent environmental reporting, and public speaking opportunities that will inspire and mobilize individuals around the world who are concerned about the future of the planet.
The Sheth Sangreal Foundation, founded by investor and philanthropist Brian Sheth, will fund operational and administrative costs for the Alliance, allowing 100 percent of additional funding to go directly to environmental programs, grants and public campaigns in support of the Alliance’s critical mission. Sheth is co-founder and president of Vista Equity Partners, a leading investment firm focused on enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses.
“Our planet is at a critical turning point, and we have an opportunity to transition our society to a sustainable one in harmony with—and in support of—all life on Earth,” said Brian Sheth, board chair of GWC. “I am honored to team up with Laurene and Leo in this ambitious new partnership to save our incredible natural world by conserving wildlife and wild places, and supporting the many individuals, organizations, and indigenous groups that serve as guardians protecting life around the world.”
While the Alliance’s strategic programs will be unveiled in the coming months, the team is committed to a thoughtful approach that builds vital collaborations with, and provides funding to, partners doing important work on the ground, simultaneously supporting local communities.
Earth Alliance has been organized as an independent entity with GWC as its fiscal sponsor, which is assuming financial oversight and administration, combined with programming oversight from the three co-founders. Earth Alliance will partner with other nonprofits, communities, government agencies, and funders who are on diverse missions to help save the planet.
# # #