The United Nations Foundation is a public charity, created in 1998 with
Ted TurnerRobert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable television network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
’s $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. It is an advocate for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas, and resources to help the United Nations solve global problems.
It helps the UN take its work and ideas to scale—through advocacy, partnerships, constituency building, and fund-raising.
History
The United Nations Foundation was created in 1998 with
entrepreneurAn entrepreneur is a person who has possession of an enterprise, or venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome. It is an ambitious leader who combines land, labor, and capital to often create and market new goods or services. ... The term is a loanword...
and
philanthropistA philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support United Nations causes. The UN Foundation builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. The UN Foundation is a public
charityA charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . The term is relatively general and can technically refer to a public charity or a private foundation. It differs from other types of NPOs in that its focus is centered around goals of a general philanthropic nature A charitable...
.
The foundation is led by Timothy E. Wirth, a former congressman and senator from
ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
, and former
U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Undersecretary of Global Affairs.
The UN Foundation strengthens and supports the UN and its causes through a blend of advocacy, grantmaking, and partnerships. Wherever possible, it aligns these core organizational assets behind large-scale problems.
The organization works to strengthen the relationship between the UN and the U.S. government with a focus on getting Congress to pay the U.S.'s debt to the UN. This effort led by the UN Foundation’s sister organization, the Better World Fund built the base for broader public outreach campaigns about the importance of international cooperation and a strong U.S./UN relationship.
Since their inception in 1998, the UN Foundation and Better World Fund have awarded grants amounting to over $1 billion dollars, including nearly $400 million in funds from dozens of partners and thousands of grassroots donors in support of UN projects and activities in 115 countries.
The UN Foundation makes it easy to engage in the work of the UN. As a platform for partnering with the UN, it help corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals make a difference in the important work the UN does across a broad range of issues. The Foundation's role in these partnerships varies from catalyst to convener, advocate to grantmaker, fiduciary to fundraising all but in each case, it is able to achieve an outcome that is greater than that which any single actor would have accomplished working alone. These efforts are conducted in close coordination with the
United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP)The United Nations Fund for International Partnerships was established in March 1998 by then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan. UNFIP is responsible for administering and developing partnerships between UN agencies, departments, and programmes and the private sector...
, its strategic counterpoint within the UN system.
Children's Health
Children around the world are dying every day from preventable diseases — every 30 seconds a child in
AfricaAfrica is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. With a billion people in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.8% of the...
dies from
malariaMalaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by a eukaryotic protist of the genus Plasmodium. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Each year, there are approximately 350–500 million cases of malaria, killing between one and...
, and an estimated 540 children die each day from
measlesMeasles is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
. They work with the
World Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health...
, UNICEF and other UN leaders to develop and expand major initiatives to help children survive and thrive.
In support of world-renowned international health partnerships, they have mobilized hundreds of millions of dollars and more than tens of thousands of people, brought new private-sector partners into the field, helped strengthen the capacity of UN health agencies working with national governments and provided program expertise to help save children’s lives.
Climate & Energy
Energy is essential to the human experience. Energy powers transportation, provides heat, brings light and drives the machinery that fuels the global economy. Worldwide reliance on fossil fuels also incurs significant political, economic, environmental and development costs. Their Climate & Energy Team works with the UN to help transition the world toward a safe, cleaner, more equitable and climate-friendly energy future.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development means meeting the needs of today (food, shelter, employment, etc.) without compromising the ability of future generations from also meeting those same needs.
The Foundation believes in the power of individuals, the private sector, local actors, governments and others to support the United Nations’ leadership in conserving the wonders of the natural world toward promoting sustainable development. Their program helps local communities develop sustainable livelihoods around some of the UN’s more than 870 World Heritage sites, including such treasures as
EcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador , literally, "Republic of the equator") is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America that...
’s
Galapagos IslandsThe Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of continental Ecuador...
and
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
’s Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Technology
Technology — especially wireless communication — is crucial to finding solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges. The United Nations Foundation and Vodafone Foundation Technology Partnership works with the UN to harness mobile technology to meet pressing global development and humanitarian challenges. They use strategic mobile technology programs to connect families separated by disaster, help emergency relief workers respond more quickly and empower health workers operating in rural areas.
Women and Population
Empowering women and girls is essential in the global drive to eliminate poverty, achieve social justice and stabilize the world’s population. Their Women & Population Team works together with the UN and other partners to promote gender equality and empower women and girls, with particular focus on reproductive and sexual health and rights.
United Nations
The UN Foundation, through their sister organization, the
Better World CampaignThe Better World Campaign , launched in 1999, is a nonpartisan organization that works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the United Nations through outreach, communications, and advocacy...
, advocates in support of a strong, effective and fully funded United Nations. A strong UN is the world’s most effective voice for international cooperation on behalf of peace, development, human rights and the environment.
Friends of World Heritage
Friends of World Heritage is a community of individuals all over the world working to preserve and protect UNESCO World Heritage sites for local communities and for future travelers. World Heritage sites — places recognized for their outstanding natural and cultural value to the world — are irreplaceable sources of life, culture and livelihoods. They provide individuals — travelers and non-travelers — with the tools to protect World Heritage, connect with local communities and travel responsibly.
The founding partners of Friends of World Heritage are the UN Foundation, UNESCO World Heritage Centre and Expedia, Inc.
The People Speak
An important element in their efforts to advocate global progress and to aid the UN in its missions is the engagement of people everywhere of all ages, but particularly young people who have the power to make a difference.
The People Speak (TPS) was created in 2003 to promote and support youths who have a passion for global issues by providing opportunities for debate and leadership, and by encouraging creativity and initiative through the use of technology and the power of ideas. More than 75,000 TPS activities to date have reached youths in all 50 states and in 88 countries.
Measles Initiative
The Measles Initiative is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. The iniative - led by the
American Red CrossThe American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States, and is the designated U.S...
, The United Nations Foundation, The
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services based in Atlanta, Georgia. It works to protect public health and safety by providing information to enhance health decisions, and it promotes health through...
, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization-provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns and disease surveillance.
Nothing But Nets
A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds, but since 2001, through the Measles Initiative, the foundation has helped to distribute millions of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to children in Africa as a form of prevention.
Nothing But Nets, a UN Foundation campaign, was created in 2006, and since then, a diverse set of Nothing But Nets partners and tens of thousands of supporters, including UNICEF, WHO, NBA Cares,
MLSMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by United States Soccer Federation . The league comprises 15 teams, 14 in the U.S. and one in Canada...
W.O.R.K.S. and The People of the
United Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which traces its roots back to the evangelical, holiness, revival movement of John and Charles Wesley within the Anglican Church. As such, the church's theological orientation is decidedly Wesleyan. It contains both liturgical and...
, have raised more than $18 million to send bed nets and save children’s lives. Nothing But Nets frequently works with youth to get the word out about malaria.
Better World Campaign
The United Nations is the only international organization with the legitimacy, respect and tools to tackle complex and borderless problems around the globe. Positive American leadership at the UN is essential to helping find the necessary global solutions to these problems. The Better World Campaign works to build a stronger relationship between the United States and the UN by connecting people—from everyday Americans to policy makers—with the important work of the UN.
Energy Future Coalition
The Energy Future Coalition builds bridges between businesses, labor organizations and environmental groups for broad-based and non-partisan solutions. With grains in efficiency and greater use of solar, wind and biofuels, the coalition aims to ease a transition to a new energy economy. The foundation provides financial and strategic support to the Energy Future Coalition.
25x25
25x25 is a rallying cry for renewable energy and a goal for America — to get 25 percent of our energy from renewable resources such as wind, solar and biofuels by the year 2025. By increasing America’s renewable energy use we can: 1) Bring new technologies to market and save consumers money. 2) Reduce our dependence on oil from the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. 3) Create good new jobs in rural America. 4) Clean up the air and help reduce urban smog and greenhouse gas emissions. The foundation provides financial and strategic support to the 25x’25 campaign.
Technology Partnership
As the mobile phone becomes commonplace even in many of the world’s poorest countries, there is a new window of opportunity for technology — especially wireless communication — to play a vital role in developing solutions to long-standing international development challenges.
Working With the UN
The United Nations was established to foster global peace, prosperity and justice. It has succeeded in its fundamental mission of preventing a third world war and improving global quality of life. But over the last 60 years, the UN’s mission and membership have been broadened dramatically.
The UN is now asked to tackle the world’s most intractable problems — global scale challenges that transcend borders but directly or indirectly affect the world: health, the environment, human rights and justice, peace and security, population, hunger and peacekeeping. The UN has a proud record of accomplishment in helping address key global challenges.
In today’s interconnected world, governments working through the United Nations can’t do it alone. A worldwide partnership between the public and private sectors is needed involving individuals, non-governmental organizations, corporations and foundations.
The foundation works with UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before becoming Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he graduated from college,...
and the UN Office of Partnerships to connect people, ideas and resources with the UN to solve the great global challenges of the 21st century.
External links
Campaigns