Leonardo DiCaprio Has Donated $100 Million To Combat Climate Change

Leonardo DiCaprio has not only won our hearts through his movies but also due to his efforts to help make the world a better place. He may have been awarded his first Oscar only in 2016 for his role in the film, The Revenant, but his work in other movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Blood Diamond, Catch Me if You Can, The Aviator, and The Departed deserve just as much praise. As does his foundation: The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation which was established in 1998. Started with the mission of protecting the environment, DiCaprio quietly donated $100 million with the help of his charity to help combat climate change. 

DiCaprio was only 24-years-old at the time he established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF). Now at 46, the charity has come a long way. In 2018, when the foundation hosted a 20th Anniversary Celebration, proceeds from the evening’s auction went on to support LDF’s critical environmental programs. According to the official website, the event was co-hosted by LDF Founder and Chairman Leonardo DiCaprio and Emerson Collective founder and president Laurene Powell. 

Leonardo DiCaprio said at the time,  “When I founded LDF 20 years ago, I did so based on the simple idea that we could make a real difference by directly funding some of the most effective environmental projects – whether it be individuals, grassroots movements, or major nonprofits, we wanted to focus on getting critical funding to those who could have the greatest impact. We are extremely proud to celebrate 20 years of this model. Since 1998, we have supported over 200 projects on every continent and in every ocean from habitat and species conservation, renewable energy, climate change, indigenous rights, and more. I am pleased to announce $11 million in new grants across our six program areas, bringing the total financial impact of LDF to over $100 million.” 

According to UNILAD, the organization focuses on six main program areas: Wildlands Conservation, Oceans Conservation, Climate Change, Indigenous Rights, Transforming California, and Innovative Solutions. Apart from handling his own organization, DiCaprio also serves on the board for other organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Natural Resources Defense Council, and National Geographic’s Pristine Seas.

In 2019, the actor partnered with Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth to launch the Earth Alliance. "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. 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," DiCaprio said at the time.

If you follow the star on social media, he constantly shares posts on information regarding wildlife and the environment and urges others to do their part to help in any way they can. For more information on the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF), click here.