Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Unveils $20M in Grants for Climate Change, Wildlife Conservation

The Oscar-winning actor announced the news at a climate change conference at Yale University on Tuesday.

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation on Tuesday announced its largest-ever portfolio of environmental grants, bringing its total amount of financial impact to over $80 million since its formation in 1998.

The new grants will offer $20 million to more than 100 organizations supporting such causes as wildlife and habitat conservation and climate programs.

DiCaprio announced the grants at a climate change conference at Yale University hosted by John Kerry. “We are proud to support the work of over 100 organizations at home and abroad," DiCaprio said. "These grantees are active on the ground, protecting our oceans, forests and endangered species for future generations — and tackling the urgent, existential challenges of climate change.”

The Oscar-winning actor went on to push for urgent action to shift from fossil fuel reliance to renewable energy. “There exist today many proven technologies in renewable energy, clean transportation and sustainable agriculture, that we can begin to build a brighter future for all of us," he said. "Our challenge is to find new ways to power our lives, employ millions of people and turn every individual into an advocate for clean air and drinkable water. We must demand that politicians accept climate science and make bold commitments before it is too late.”

Said Terry Tamminen, CEO of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation: “This round of grants comes at a critical time. With a lack of political leadership and continued evidence that climate change is growing worse with record-breaking heatwaves and storms, we believe we need to do as much as we can now, before it is too late.”

The grants announced covered six areas: climate change, wildlife and landscape conservation, marine life and ocean conservation, innovative solutions, indigenous rights and the California program.