The effective altruism (EA) movement has changed how many people think about doing good. It asks a simple question:
How can we use our resources to help others as much as possible?
As the world faces intertwined crises – climate instability, biodiversity loss, and growing social inequities – the question of what counts as effective needs to evolve.
At OneNature, we believe that protecting nature cannot be separated from sustaining the wellbeing of the communities that live closest to those ecosystems. Interventions that overlook the needs of neighbouring communities risk offering solutions that are incomplete, unfair, or short-lived.
A Meta Charity for Systemic Change
In the language of Effective Altruism, OneNature considers ourselves a Meta Charity – an organisation that amplifies the impact of others by improving how resources are used, decisions are made, and systems are designed.
Instead of delivering direct aid, we enable funders, policymakers, NGOs and companies to align environmental aims and social outcomes using our wellbeing-centred framework: the Wild Happiness Approach.
The Wild Happiness Approach is a peer-reviewed, systems-based methodology that provides a flexible, evidence-based process for embedding wellbeing-centred design and metrics in conservation, land use, ESG, or climate resilience.
It follows four progressive steps:
- 360° Community Wellbeing Assessment – Discover what supports or hinders local wellbeing
- Insight and Alignment – Reflect on outcomes, behaviours, and power dynamics
- Co-Creation and Solution Design – Develop interventions grounded in local priorities
- Ongoing Impact Monitoring – Track changes in wellbeing and sustainability over time
Through participatory research and behavioural science, this approach enables communities to express their indicators of wellbeing and to co-create, design, and lead solutions that reflect their values, cultural identity, and connection to nature.
Four Pathways of Meta Impact
1️⃣ Effective Giving: Embedding Wellbeing in Grantmaking
Too often, environmental and climate funding overlooks how interventions affect local wellbeing, trust, and cultural values.
Using tools like the Wild Happiness Index, OneNature helps funders integrate community-centred metrics into their strategies – ensuring their investments are fair, impactful, and aligned with local priorities.
2️⃣ Field-Building: Equipping Practitioners
Through training programmes, peer exchanges, and co-creation workshops, we equip practitioners and leaders to apply wellbeing-centred methods in their work.
This turns abstract concepts like “community-led design” into practical tools – making wellbeing a central measure of environmental success.
3️⃣ Research & Ideas: Building a New Evidence Base
OneNature bridges the data gap between human and environmental outcomes.
We collaborate with academic and policy partners to test tools and build new metrics that measure how wellbeing, resilience, and biodiversity are interlinked – reshaping how the sector defines success.
4️⃣ Boosting Other Impactful Organisations
Our work is designed to multiply impact.
We strengthen NGOs, governments, and companies through wellbeing dashboards, participatory tools, and advisory support that improve programme design and monitoring – ensuring community voices shape the path forward.
A Broader Vision of Effectiveness
To us, being a Meta Charity means improving not just how much good gets done – but how well it lasts.
The Wild Happiness Approach helps:
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Communities govern their own wellbeing
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Companies report social impact with rigour
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Governments adopt “Beyond GDP” indicators
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Biodiversity and community resilience grow together
Effectiveness, in this sense, is measured by relationships that endure, ecosystems that recover, and capacities that grow.
OneNature’s contribution to effective altruism lies here:
✨ Ensuring that people and nature continue to flourish – long after a project ends.
With Gratitude
OneNature Team