Interview with Jane DeMarines, Executive Director of Climate Diet

Jane DeMarines joins DC Ecowomen members at the Mentor Dinner

In October, DC EcoWomen members gathered at Teaism Penn Quarter for an intimate mentor dinner with Jane DeMarines, Executive Director and Founder of Climate Diet, Sustainable Earth Eating. Over food, Jane opened up about her journey from retirement to launching a national nonprofit focused on the connection between our eating habits and climate change.

Our Mentor Dinner series brings together 6-8 members with environmental leaders for exactly these kinds of conversations—creating space to explore different career paths, discuss challenges, and share hard-won wisdom. What follows is Jane's perspective on starting late, staying resilient, and maintaining hope while building a nonprofit in the climate space.

Q. You were approaching retirement when you founded Climate Diet. What made

you decide to launch a nonprofit at that stage of life rather than step back?

A. I feel happiest when I am contributing to some goal, and I think happiness comes from

trying to help others, so while I enjoy relaxing and reading a book, I have too much energy to do that. Also, when I became aware of the impact our eating habits have on the natural environment, specifically plants vs. meat, I wanted to inspire people to transition to a plant-based and climate-friendly diet. I couldn’t find anyone else working on this issue in the non-profit world.

Q. What advice would you give to women who think they might be too late to start

something new in the climate space?

A. I don’t think it’s ever too late in the climate space or any space. I’ve been reading about a woman who just published her 100th book at the age of 89, and a man in his 90s who ran his first ultramarathon -- over 26 miles. Living is about using yourself -- your skills to be part of the action.

Q. Building a nonprofit from the ground up requires wearing many hats, such as fundraiser,

program director, marketer, and accountant. How did you prioritize which skills to develop

yourself versus when to bring in help or partners?

Good Question. I did bring in contractors fairly early on, on a part-time basis. Our marketing firm is out of India, and I found them via a sister group in Phoenix. Even though I have marketing skills, I needed someone to manage the design of products. On the fundraising side, I collaborated with outside contractors. It’s a continuing effort on the fundraising side. I received small grants very early on, but both funders changed focus and were no longer available. More success came from my residence in Montgomery County, Maryland. The county liked my program targeting school students in Montgomery County, and began to fund me. They have been great!

Q. What would you do differently knowing what you know now?

A. Not sure, it’s hard to know why a funder turns you down. Even if they give you feedback, the decision-makers may have personal preferences and beliefs that influence their decision-making. I would definitely try to spend more time getting to staff at certain foundations. Also, I think we are a niche environmental cause. Many people resist switching to a plant-based diet because they don't believe it will make a difference. It is estimated that plant-based eaters account for just 1-3% of the population. Vegetarians represent 8-10% of the U.S. population, while in India, 41% follow a vegetarian diet.

Jane harvesting lettuce on the balcony

Q. Climate change can feel overwhelming, and burnout is real in this space. How do you

maintain your own resilience and sense of hope while doing this work?

I feel tired at the end of the day, so I try to exercise and eat right to maintain optimal health. I don’t

get burnt out, and I do feel hopeful, as I see the next generation being the ones that are ready to take up this cause. Two of my daughters are vegan, and one created her own business and markets a healthy chocolate plant-based snack. The other works for an Australian start-up using AI for health purposes. I am so proud of both of them. I think plant-based food producers are helping to move the ball forward.

Q. What practices or mindset shifts have helped you sustain your energy over time?

A. I think you have to accept that not everything always works out the way you want it, but that doesn't diminish your success or the impact you've made. You've got to just keep on keeping on and measure your own success incrementally.

Q. Many women in the environmental sector struggle with being taken seriously or accessing the same funding and networks as their male counterparts. Have you faced these challenges with Climate Diet, and if so, how have you navigated them?

Good question, and I don’t think I can answer it. It might make me angry if I find out I’ve been outmaneuvered just by gender. I would say the existence of DC Ecowomen gives me great hope for this sector. I know Climate Diet has benefited from this group! For example, about a year ago, your president promoted a small fundraiser we held at the DC Vegan restaurant. We appreciated that kindness very much. I look forward to remaining connected to DC Ecowomen in the future. I personally want to support women and do what I can to give back to this wonderful group.

Q. If you could give one piece of mentorship advice to a woman in our community who wants to make a bigger impact on climate issues—whether through starting something new, pivoting their career, or amplifying their current work—what would it be?

Well, it would be to think about what part of the work they enjoy the most, or what aspect of the work they still want to learn, and how they can bring their skills to an employer. I do think that it helps to broaden your skills, and an employer can help you do that. For example, I’ve been providing help to two employees who are adding new skills in the area of fundraising. When I started Climate Diet, I was in a position where I didn't have to worry about an income, as I was retired. That was a huge bonus, and I didn’t worry about having funding initially. So where you are on the financial side obviously matters. I think environmental causes are extremely important to many funders, and that many would support start-ups. Climate Diet’s focus is more narrow. I see grants available for all types of environmental start-ups by some very large funders. So money is out there!