Plan USA
The United States member organization of Plan International, supporting child rights, girls' equality, and community development worldwide.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Plan USA, formally known as Plan International USA, is a United States-based nonprofit organization affiliated with Plan International, a global federation focused on child rights, gender equality, poverty reduction, and humanitarian assistance. The organization connects donors, institutions, and advocates in the United States with community-based programs implemented with local partners and Plan International country offices around the world. The American organization was incorporated in New York in 1939 as Foster Parents Plan, Inc. Its original role was to connect American supporters with children affected by war and poverty overseas. The organization developed from the wider Plan movement, which was founded in 1937 by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge during the Spanish Civil War. The original initiative, Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain, provided food, housing, and education to children displaced or otherwise affected by the conflict. During the Second World War, the movement expanded its work with displaced children in Europe under the name Foster Parents Plan for War Children. Over subsequent decades, Plan broadened its geographic and programmatic scope. By the 1970s it was working in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The international organization adopted the name Plan International in 1974, while the U.S. member later used the names Childreach/Plan International and Plan International USA before commonly presenting itself as Plan USA. The organization remains part of the Plan International federation rather than an independent commercial brand. Plan USA's work includes child sponsorship, girls' education and leadership, protection from violence and harmful practices, sexual and reproductive health, economic empowerment, disaster response, and advocacy for children's rights. Its sponsorship model links an American donor with an individual child, but contributions are generally directed toward broader community programs rather than handed directly to the sponsored child. These programs may support schools, clean water and sanitation, health services, child-protection systems, livelihoods, and local organizations. A central strategic emphasis is the advancement of girls' rights. Plan USA has supported international and domestic initiatives addressing gender discrimination, social norms, education access, safety, leadership, and economic opportunity. Its programming increasingly emphasizes participation by girls and young people in defining problems, designing interventions, and evaluating results. The organization also maintains youth engagement activities, including a youth advisory structure and the Youth Leadership Academy. Plan USA receives support from individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government grants. Its activities are coordinated with Plan International and other federation members, allowing the U.S. organization to contribute to work implemented across dozens of countries. In 2024, the wider Plan network reported reaching tens of millions of children and adults through education, sponsorship, community development, and emergency-response programs. Plan USA is an active nonprofit organization headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.
History
Plan USA is the American member of Plan International, whose origins lie in an emergency child-welfare initiative established during the Spanish Civil War. In 1937, British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge created Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain to provide food, accommodation, and education to children affected by the conflict. The movement subsequently became Foster Parents Plan for War Children during the Second World War and extended assistance to displaced children in other parts of Europe. The American branch was incorporated in New York in 1939 as Foster Parents Plan, Inc. It served as a fundraising and sponsorship link between U.S. donors and children supported by the international organization. Rather than treating sponsorship as a simple transfer of money to an individual child, the organization developed a community-oriented model in which contributions support services and infrastructure benefiting children, families, and communities. Plan's international activities expanded significantly after the war. By the 1970s, the organization was operating in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The parent movement changed its name to Plan International in 1974. The U.S. organization later adopted the identity Childreach/Plan International and eventually became Plan International USA, while also using the shorter public-facing name Plan USA. The organization's focus has evolved from emergency relief and child sponsorship toward a broad development and humanitarian portfolio. Its work includes education, health, water and sanitation, child protection, youth participation, gender equality, livelihoods, disaster response, and advocacy. Girls' rights became a particularly prominent area of emphasis through programs addressing discriminatory social norms, school access, safety, reproductive health, legal rights, leadership, and economic opportunity. Plan USA has also developed research and public-engagement activities in the United States. Its 2018 report on gender equality among U.S. adolescents examined how young people understand equality and what shapes their attitudes. Its GirlEngage approach sought to place vulnerable and marginalized girls at the center of program design and evaluation. In 2022, the We Are the Girls campaign brought the organization's international gender-equality message into a U.S. public campaign focused on girls' leadership and collective action. Youth participation is supported through a Plan USA Youth Advisory Board and the Youth Leadership Academy, a yearlong initiative intended to develop young leaders and involve them in organizational projects and events. Plan USA coordinates with other Plan International members and country programs, contributing U.S. donations, grants, partnerships, advocacy, and public communications to work implemented internationally. The organization is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, and remains an active charitable nonprofit.
- 2023
Shanna Marzilli appointed CEO
[1]Shanna Marzilli became President and Chief Executive Officer.
- 2022
We Are the Girls campaign launches
[1]The organization launched a U.S. campaign promoting girls' leadership and action against gender inequality.
- 2018
Gender equality report for U.S. adolescents
[1]Plan USA released a report examining adolescents' views and experiences concerning gender equality in the United States.
- 1990
U.S. identity transitions toward Plan International
[1]The American organization used the name Childreach/Plan International and later adopted Plan International USA.
- 1974
Parent organization adopts Plan International name
[1]The international organization shortened its name from Foster Parents Plan to Plan International.
- 1970
International geographic expansion
[1]By the 1970s, Plan had expanded its work beyond Europe into Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- 1939
U.S. organization incorporated
[1]Foster Parents Plan, Inc. was incorporated in New York to connect U.S. supporters with the international child-welfare movement.
- 1937
Plan movement founded during the Spanish Civil War
[1]John Langdon-Davies and Eric Muggeridge established Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain to assist children affected by war.
Products and positioning
A U.S. nonprofit platform for supporting Plan International's community-led child-rights, girls' equality, humanitarian, and development work.
Charitable giving program
Child sponsorship
Plan USA's sponsorship service connects a donor with an individual child while directing funds toward community development rather than giving the donation directly to the child. Projects may support education, health, water and sanitation, child protection, and family livelihoods. Sponsors may exchange correspondence with the child and family where program conditions permit.
Girls' rights campaign
Because I Am a Girl
An international Plan campaign focused on reducing gender discrimination and improving girls' access to education, health care, family planning, legal rights, safety, and economic opportunity. The campaign positioned girls' equality as a central route to reducing poverty and strengthening communities.
Program model · 2019
GirlEngage
GirlEngage is a participatory approach intended to address restrictive social and gender norms while improving girls' schooling and safety. It emphasizes the meaningful involvement of vulnerable and marginalized girls in defining problems, shaping interventions, implementing activities, and assessing results.
Public campaign · 2022
We Are the Girls
A U.S.-facing campaign promoting girls' leadership and projects in education, protection, youth equality, and economic empowerment. The campaign encouraged public participation through a pledge and collaborations with media, creative, and commercial partners.
Youth development program
Youth Leadership Academy
A yearlong youth program focused on developing leadership skills, supporting youth participation, and involving young people in Plan USA activities and events.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022We Are the Girls
United States · International
The campaign promoted girls' leadership and encouraged action against the structural causes of gender inequality, including through girl-led initiatives and a public pledge.
Outcome. Plan USA partnered with Unsplash, Z100, and UNIQLO while seeking public support for Plan's broader fundraising and gender-equality goals.
- 2018The State of Gender Equality for U.S. Adolescents
United States
Plan USA used research and media relations to examine how U.S. adolescents understand gender equality and which social influences shape their views.
Outcome. The report received national media attention and was recognized by PR Daily as Media Relations campaign of the year.
- Because I Am a Girl
International · United States
Plan's global gender-equality campaign sought to improve girls' education, health, safety, legal rights, family-planning access, and economic prospects while challenging discrimination and harmful social norms.
Outcome. The campaign became a major public framework for Plan's girls' rights advocacy and programming.
Brand decisions
2022
Launch We Are the Girls in the United StatesStrategyBackground
Plan USA aimed to connect domestic public engagement with Plan's international work on girls' rights and gender equality.
Action taken
The organization launched a campaign centered on girls' leadership, girl-led projects, a public pledge, and partnerships with Unsplash, Z100, and UNIQLO.
Aftermath
The campaign broadened Plan USA's public-facing U.S. advocacy around girls' equality.
2019
Expand the GirlEngage modelStrategyBackground
Plan USA sought to address gender inequality by giving vulnerable and marginalized girls a stronger role in program design and evaluation.
Action taken
The organization announced a major donation intended to fund GirlEngage programming focused on social norms, girls' education, and community safety.
Aftermath
GirlEngage strengthened Plan USA's participatory approach to girls' rights and gender-equality work.
1974
Adopt the Plan International identityStrategyBackground
The international organization was moving beyond its original war-relief and foster-parenting identity toward a broader international development role.
Action taken
The parent organization changed its name from Foster Parents Plan to Plan International; the U.S. organization later adopted related Plan International branding.
Aftermath
The name change reflected the federation's expanded geographic reach and wider community-development mandate.
Sources2 sources
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