Philanthropist Brian Sheth Leads Conservation Initiatives Locally and Worldwide
Brian Sheth wants to turn the energy he focused on tech finance into a conservation about healing the planet. Sheth, who earned billions as the co-founder and president of a private equity firm, has turned his focus onto ecological and conservation issues.
The Sheth Sangreal Foundation has made significant commitments to conservation and environmental issues throughout the Austin, Texas, area and around the world.
In 2017, the Sheth Sangreal Foundation launched a matching gift challenge to benefit Re:wild, an Austin-based organization dedicated to preserving open space and protecting biodiversity. The foundation matched dollar for dollar gifts up to $10 million initially before raising the challenge to $15 million.
The foundation’s gifts allowed Re:wild (then known as “Global Wildlife Conservation”), to hire an internationally renowned conservation biologist, Russ Mittermeier, onto its leadership team. The gift also enabled the organization to accelerate various habitat conservation projects around the world.
Brian Sheth helped found the organization. At the time of the gift, Brian Sheth served as chairman of the organization’s board. Today he is chair emeritus and continues to serve on the board.
Partnership with Leonardo DiCaprio
Brian Sheth and the Sheth Sangreal Foundation were instrumental in the creation of Earth Alliance, a nonprofit focused on preventing biodiversity loss and climate change. Sheth partnered with actor and known environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio and fellow billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs in creating the organization.
The alliance pools resources from several organizations, including Re:wild, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and the Emerson Collective (founded by Powell Jobs).
The Alliance’s work includes providing grants funding campaigns and films, and working with individuals and grassroots organizations. It aims to protect wildlife and ecosystems, invest in renewable energy initiatives, ensure climate justice and preserve indigenous rights.
The Sheth Sangreal Foundation is funding the administrative and operational costs for the Earth Alliance.
About the Sheth Sangreal Foundation
Founded in 2011 by Brian Sheth and his wife, Adria, the foundation is focused on supporting environmental and educational initiatives. To date, the foundation has been involved in 430 projects and has more than 90 partnerships in more than 80 countries. The foundation has committed $60 million to date in saving the planet.
The impact of the foundation’s work is palpable. Its work has helped preserve 50,000 miles of forest and protected 83 species from extinction. Their educational programs have benefitted more than 120,000 children worldwide.
In addition to serving causes worldwide, the foundation is committed to Austin. The city has suffered from a severe childhood poverty rate, meaning many children were living in crisis and uncertainty. The foundation played a significant role in addressing the need to provide children with a safe place to learn, play and grow.
The foundation, with its $13 million donation, was largely responsible for funding a new 32,000-square-foot Boys & Girls Clubs building in Austin. The world-class facility, located on what is now called the Sheth Family Campus, opened in April 2019.
The building features a STEM learning center, computer lab, library, art studio, dance studio, recording studio and teen center. Recreation options include indoor athletics facilities, baseball and soccer fields, and basketball and tennis courts.
During the early days of the pandemic, the foundation initiated a $500,000 matching challenge to support the creation and distribution of Club on the Go kits. The kits included meals, snacks, activities and resources for children and their families during lockdown.
Long-Time Commitment to Conservancy Work
Sheth grew up in Boston idolizing Jacques Cousteau and wanting to become a marine biologist. His interests eventually turned to finance and investing. He eventually attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Re:wild’s chief scientist and CEO is Wes Sechrest, who happens to be one of Sheth’s closest childhood friends. Even as young boys, the two would go on nature walks together and talk about conversation and protecting animals.
Sheth and his family did not have a lot of money in Acton, Mass. However, Sheth’s parents reinforced the value and importance of volunteerism and giving back.
It was at Penn that the spirit of giving back began to present itself. He joined a club, the University City Hospitality Coalition. As a board member for the club, he saw first-hand the challenges of operating soup kitchens and food banks in the poor sections of Philadelphia.
He began to look at what made nonprofits work effectively and what could be improved in terms of organizational design. He has brought that operational and change management expertise, along with his generosity, to the nonprofits he supports.
Among the other projects the foundation has supported:
- Tracking New Zealand southern right whales with satellite tracking tags. Scientists from the University of Auckland and Cawthron Institute worked to apply the tags in the sub-Antarctic in a sheltered harbor on Auckland Island. Scientists were also able to take skin samples for genetic analysis and can now track the animals via satellite.
- Supporting the Austin American-Statesman newspaper’s annual Season of Caring campaign with a $250,000 matching grant. The paper’s campaign provides grants to local Austin-area organizations and selects 12 families for support from the community.
The deep commitment to communities and conservation has helped position Brian Sheth and the Sheth Sangreal Foundation as leading philanthropists, both locally and worldwide.