United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based charitable organization established in 1998 following philanthropist and media entrepreneur Ted Turner’s commitment of $1 billion to support the United Nations. Turner created the foundation during a period when the UN faced major financial and political constraints, including concerns that the United States was not meeting its assessed contribution obligations. His aim was not only to provide money, but also to broaden public and private backing for the UN and its work on international challenges. The organization initially operated mainly as a grantmaker and funding intermediary for UN programs. Over time, it developed into a strategic partner that combines philanthropy, policy advocacy, communications, convening, and public-private partnership building. Its work supports UN agencies, international initiatives, civil-society groups, businesses, governments, and expert communities. The foundation’s activities have covered global health, vaccination, malaria, climate and environmental policy, gender equality, reproductive health, humanitarian response, peace and security, human rights, data, technology, and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Major initiatives associated with the foundation include Nothing But Nets, which supports malaria prevention; the Measles & Rubella Initiative; Girl Up, a youth leadership and girls’ empowerment program; Shot@Life, which advocates for childhood immunization; the Clean Cooking Alliance; the Digital Impact Alliance; and communications and advocacy work for global polio eradication. The foundation has also supported Every Woman Every Child, the Universal Access Project, Global Goals Week, and the Business Council for the United Nations. These programs illustrate its evolution from a conventional grantmaking institution toward an organization that creates networks and campaigns around UN priorities. In March 2020, the foundation helped establish the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization in partnership with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. The fund raised more than $200 million during its first six weeks, supporting disease surveillance, protective equipment, medical research, and the development of tests, treatments, and vaccines. Its beneficiaries and related fundraising later expanded to include additional UN and global-health partners. The foundation is funded by philanthropic, corporate, governmental, and individual donors. It has reported cumulative grant disbursements of more than $1.5 billion to the UN system. Its role is complementary to, rather than part of, the United Nations: it is an independent nonprofit that works alongside UN institutions and advocates for stronger international cooperation. The organization also supports US-UN engagement through advocacy and its relationship with the Better World Campaign. Elizabeth Cousens became president and chief executive officer in January 2020, succeeding Kathy Calvin; Ted Turner has served as board chair.

The United Nations Foundation emerged from Ted Turner’s decision in 1998 to commit $1 billion to the United Nations. Turner believed that the UN was essential to addressing problems that crossed national borders, including poverty, environmental degradation, public health threats, and conflict. He also viewed private philanthropy as a way to reinforce the organization at a time when its finances and political support were under pressure. The gift was structured to provide substantial annual support over a decade and created the institutional basis for the foundation. The early foundation focused on directing philanthropic resources toward established UN priorities. These included children’s health, population and family planning, environmental agreements, and humanitarian and peace-related work. It also sought to strengthen American understanding of the UN and encourage the United States to meet its financial responsibilities to the organization. In cooperation with the UN, it helped establish the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships as a counterpart within the UN system. During its first two decades, the foundation expanded beyond grantmaking. It began building coalitions, developing communications platforms, convening experts, and creating campaigns capable of attracting public participation and corporate support. Global health became one of its most significant areas, with work on malaria prevention, measles and rubella vaccination, childhood immunization, polio eradication, reproductive health, and health-system resilience. Nothing But Nets translated public donations into malaria-prevention support, while Shot@Life encouraged Americans to advocate for and fund childhood vaccination. The Measles & Rubella Initiative linked the foundation with UNICEF, WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Red Cross. Gender equality and youth participation became another important area. Girl Up gave adolescent girls opportunities to organize clubs, raise awareness, and develop leadership skills while supporting programs for girls in lower-income countries. Other efforts addressed maternal health, reproductive-health access, family planning, gender data, and broader equality through the Equal Everywhere platform. After the SDGs were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, the foundation increasingly organized its work around the goals and their implementation. It promoted awareness among civil society, business, academia, and governments and supported Global Goals Week during the period of the UN General Assembly. It also maintained programs concerning climate change, clean cooking, digital technology, data systems, antimicrobial resistance, and global cooperation. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a major emergency-response chapter. In March 2020, the foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation helped create the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO. The fund mobilized more than $200 million within six weeks and supported surveillance, protective equipment, research, and the development of vaccines, tests, and treatments. Subsequent support involved additional multilateral and humanitarian partners. The foundation also launched Unite for Health in 2020 to argue for international cooperation and the protection of global-health gains. Leadership has included founding president Timothy E. Wirth, former CEO Kathy Calvin, and Elizabeth Cousens, who became president and CEO in 2020. Turner has remained associated with the organization as board chair. The foundation continues to operate as an independent nonprofit and strategic partner to the UN, using donor capital, partnerships, advocacy, and communications to advance international development and cooperation.

• 2020

  COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund established

  [1]United Nations Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation helped create a global fundraising mechanism for WHO’s pandemic response.

• 2015

  Sustainable Development Goals adopted

  [1]United Nations Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation expanded its SDG awareness, partnership, and implementation work following adoption of the goals by the UN General Assembly.

• 2010

  Girl Up launches

  [1]United Nations Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  A youth-focused campaign was created to develop girls’ leadership and support girls’ education, health, safety, and participation.

• 2001

  Measles & Rubella Initiative begins

  [1]United Nations Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation joined major public-health partners in a vaccination partnership targeting measles and rubella.

• 1998

  Foundation created

  [1]United Nations Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Ted Turner’s $1 billion commitment to the United Nations led to the establishment of the United Nations Foundation.

An independent philanthropic and strategic partner to the United Nations that translates global priorities into funding, coalitions, advocacy campaigns, and public-private initiatives.

• Global health campaign · 2006

  Nothing But Nets

  A malaria-prevention campaign that mobilizes donations, public advocacy, and awareness to support the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and related malaria-control efforts, particularly in Africa.

• Girls’ leadership campaign · 2010

  Girl Up

  A youth-led initiative that helps adolescent girls build leadership skills, organize clubs and events, advocate for girls’ rights, and support programs improving girls’ education, health, safety, and civic participation.

• Immunization advocacy campaign · 2012

  Shot@Life

  A public-engagement campaign that educates and mobilizes Americans around childhood vaccination and global immunization, using advocacy, fundraising, and community participation to support UN partners.

• Pandemic response fund · 2020

  COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund

  A fundraising mechanism created with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation to support WHO’s COVID-19 response, including surveillance, protective equipment, research, testing, treatment, and vaccine development.

• SDG partnership platform · 2016

  Global Goals Week

  A partnership and communications platform that brings organizations, businesses, civil society, and communities together around the Sustainable Development Goals during the UN General Assembly period.

• Climate and development initiative · 2010

  Clean Cooking Alliance

  An initiative associated with the foundation’s work to expand access to cleaner cooking solutions, reduce household air pollution, and connect energy access with health, gender, climate, and development outcomes.

• 2020COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund

  Global

  Raised emergency resources for WHO and later additional humanitarian and health partners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Outcome. More than $200 million was raised during the first six weeks, according to the cited reference material.

  Source
• 2020Unite for Health

  Global

  Called for international collaboration and protection of global-health systems and progress during the pandemic.

  Source
• 2010Girl Up

  Global · United States

  Engages girls and young women in leadership, organizing, advocacy, and fundraising for girls’ rights and opportunities.

  Outcome. The campaign developed a network of school and campus clubs and youth advocates.

  Source
• 2006Nothing But Nets

  Africa · United States

  Mobilizes the public and private sector to support malaria prevention through mosquito nets, advocacy, and donations.

  Outcome. The campaign has supported the distribution of more than 13 million nets according to the cited reference material.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch COVID-19 emergency fundraising mechanismOther

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created urgent global demand for surveillance, protective equipment, research, testing, treatment, and vaccine development.

  Action taken

  The foundation partnered with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation to establish the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO.

  Aftermath

  The fund raised more than $200 million in its first six weeks and later supported a wider group of international partners.

  Funds raised. More than $200 million (First six weeks after launch in 2020)

  Source

• 1998

  Create an independent philanthropic partner for the UNStrategy

  Background

  The UN faced funding pressure and needed broader public and private support for its programs and priorities.

  Action taken

  Ted Turner established the foundation with a $1 billion commitment and a mandate to fund and advocate for UN-related work.

  Aftermath

  The organization evolved from a grantmaking conduit into a strategic partner that builds campaigns, partnerships, and advocacy networks.

  Original philanthropic commitment. $1 billion (1998 commitment)

  Source

1. 1United Nations Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2United Nations Foundation official websiteunfoundation.org