Philanthro-activism for the Planet: One Earth’s Justin Winters on the Lead With We podcast

Imagine a world where you have the power to drive real change, where the click of a mouse can significantly impact the causes you care about most.

This vision is becoming a reality through One Earth’s Project Marketplace, an online platform that revolutionizes traditional philanthropy by enabling direct support to critical climate solutions worldwide, emphasizing Indigenous and women-led initiatives.

One Earth’s Co-founder & Executive Director, Justin Winters, recently appeared on the Lead With We podcast with Simon Mainwaring, where she discussed the Project Marketplace and the power of collective action.

A powerful platform breaking down philanthropic barriers

During the podcast, Justin highlighted the power of the Project Marketplace. "When you explore the projects, and you read about the effort, the community behind it, the people leading the way, you can directly donate through the Project Marketplace to those projects."

Through this model, One Earth is breaking down philanthropic barriers for individuals and organizations alike. The Project Marketplace doesn’t charge a fee, ensuring that all public donations go directly to support the on-the-ground work. Every quarter, One Earth distributes these donations to fuel transformative change around the world.

With over 130 climate solution projects listed on the Marketplace, the platform is growing rapidly. As Justin explains, “It's a big global scale project, and we do a lot of storytelling around all those folks. It’s a collection of incredible projects led by incredible people with incredible stories that is going to grow.”

Bioregions: The map of the world drawn by Nature

Another fascinating aspect of the Project Marketplace platform is the feature that allows users to scroll around  the interactive globe and explore the 185 bioregions of the Earth. Bioregions are biogeographical areas defined by ecological boundaries rather than political boundaries. Essentially, a map of the world as delineated by Nature.

Justin emphasized the importance of seeing the world through this different lens. 

Solving both social and environmental issues

Further into the podcast, Justin stresses the importance of intersectional themes in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. She explained, "Social justice, gender equity, sustainable livelihoods—these intersectional themes are the human story, the human element."

Recognizing the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues, One Earth integrates these themes across its projects, fostering a holistic and inclusive approach to solving the climate crisis.

Connecting people back to their origins

The interview also delved into the significance of collaboration and breaking free from specialization. Justin expressed her hope for a return to our origins, deeply rooted in understanding our interconnectedness with Nature.

"I hope that we are coming out of an age of extreme specialization back to our origins, which are more deeply rooted in understanding how deeply connected we are to Nature, how deeply connected human health is to the vibrancy of the planet and natural systems, and how everything is interconnected."

Everyone can be part of the solution to the climate crisis

The Lead With We podcast interview highlights the power of collective action and individual agency in shaping a sustainable future. Everyone, regardless of geographic location or background, can contribute meaningfully to the causes they believe in.

Everyone can be part of the solution, and together, we can course-correct our future and build a vibrant, just world for generations to come!