United Nations Foundation
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Foundation started up in 1998 with a $1 billion grant from Ted Turner
in order to support the United Nations
in executing its programs worldwide. The creation of the Foundation was intended to encourage other donors to also support the UN in its activities. The main issue areas that the Foundation addresses are child health, climate change & energy, sustainable development, technology, women and population, and supporting the United Nations. Some of the biggest global campaigns that the UN Foundation has been involved in include Nothing But Nets, the Measles Initiative, Better World Campaign, Climate Change, amongst others. They are also active in youth engagement and efforts to rebuild Haiti.
have provided grants in order to support the UN goals worldwide. The United Nations Foundation serves as the largest source of private funding to the United Nations. In conjunction with the UN, they established the UN Fund for International Partnerships in order to serve as the UN counterpart to the Foundation.
The United Nations Foundation has collected more than $125 million from other places, including from other foundations, corporations, NGOs, and individuals. The Foundation also works with its UN partners in order to provide policy recommendations and project proposals. The missions of the Foundation and its partner, the Better World Campaign have also helped raise awareness of issues amongst global policy makers and the public. The UN Foundation's current budgetary breakdown is $82.6 million going to program services, $6.9 million to fundraising, and $5.6 million going to management and overhead.
, who in 1996 was worth $3.2 billion due to his Time Warner enterprise, decided to make a $1 billion contribution to the UN because he had previously donated to similar causes, and felt strongly about the issues the UN were participating in. Before donating to the UN, Turner was a proponent for the protection of the environment, especially in combating global warming. Turner believed that his $100 million per year donation over the course of 10 years would make a difference in the direction of the United Nations
, and that he could use this donation to encourage other wealthy members of society to make financial contributions to the work of the UN.
man, U.S. Senator
, and the first Undersecretary for Global Affairs in U.S. President Bill Clinton
's administration. Kathy Calvin
is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. She previously served as the President of AOL Time Warner prior to becoming the CEO of the UN Foundation. Ted Turner serves as the Chairman of the Board. Other notable board members include Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, Kofi Annan
, Gro Harlem Brundtland
,and Muhammad Yunus
amongst others.
with the problem of reforming the UN. They also desired to bolster UN programs that were viewed as successful, including children's health, population control, environment issues, and land-mines. One of their priorities was also to work with the private sector to raise more money for the UN. They also had the intention of raising awareness of the UN and its programs amongst the American population. They have had a close relationship with the UN and its leadership from the beginning in order to set goals and provide funding for particular programs.
. The Measles Initiative, as it called, is a partnership between the UN Foundation, the American Red Cross
, UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization
in order to provide measles vaccinations to children across the African continent. During the first year of this campaign, vaccines were distributed across 8 African countries, which vaccinated over 21 million children. This campaign not only focuses on vaccinating children, but also putting into place health infrastructure, and promoting better access to health-care across the continent. The UN Foundation also runs the Nothing But Nets Campaign, which is targeted at reducing malaria
across the African continent. This campaign originally started when Sports Illustrated
writer Patrick Reilley published an article asking his readers to donate money to a campaign to buy mosquito nets for those in Africa
suffering from malaria. With support from the UN Foundation, Reilley's project got off the ground, and has to-date provided over 3.5 million nets across Africa.
, Randi Zuckerberg, the VP of Consumer Products at Google
, Marissa Mayer, and the publisher of Variety Magazine, Brian Gott, amongst others.
in order to raise money and install solar-powered lights within displacement camps in Haiti
. Linkin Park's Music for Relief charity is working closely with the Foundation on funding this project. By providing lights in these camps, they are in turn reducing the amount of violence and rape directed at women and children, which often occurs at night when there is minimal visibility within these camps.
, works to better the relationship between the United States
and the United Nations. The Better World Campaign
advocates at Congress in order to ensure that the US fulfills its financial obligations to the United Nations, and that it repays its debt. The Better World Campaign allows the Foundation to have a direct channel to the US legislative and administrative powers.
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
in order to support the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in executing its programs worldwide. The creation of the Foundation was intended to encourage other donors to also support the UN in its activities. The main issue areas that the Foundation addresses are child health, climate change & energy, sustainable development, technology, women and population, and supporting the United Nations. Some of the biggest global campaigns that the UN Foundation has been involved in include Nothing But Nets, the Measles Initiative, Better World Campaign, Climate Change, amongst others. They are also active in youth engagement and efforts to rebuild Haiti.
History and background
The United Nations Foundation’s original purpose was to help unite nations and individuals behind the goals of the United Nations, and to make sure that the United States honors its commitments to the United Nations. Since its beginning, the United Nations Foundation and the Better World CampaignBetter World Campaign
The 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...
have provided grants in order to support the UN goals worldwide. The United Nations Foundation serves as the largest source of private funding to the United Nations. In conjunction with the UN, they established the UN Fund for International Partnerships in order to serve as the UN counterpart to the Foundation.
The United Nations Foundation has collected more than $125 million from other places, including from other foundations, corporations, NGOs, and individuals. The Foundation also works with its UN partners in order to provide policy recommendations and project proposals. The missions of the Foundation and its partner, the Better World Campaign have also helped raise awareness of issues amongst global policy makers and the public. The UN Foundation's current budgetary breakdown is $82.6 million going to program services, $6.9 million to fundraising, and $5.6 million going to management and overhead.
Turner's choice of the UN for his donation
Ted TurnerTed Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
, who in 1996 was worth $3.2 billion due to his Time Warner enterprise, decided to make a $1 billion contribution to the UN because he had previously donated to similar causes, and felt strongly about the issues the UN were participating in. Before donating to the UN, Turner was a proponent for the protection of the environment, especially in combating global warming. Turner believed that his $100 million per year donation over the course of 10 years would make a difference in the direction of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and that he could use this donation to encourage other wealthy members of society to make financial contributions to the work of the UN.
Leadership
The UN Foundation is led by President Timothy E. Wirth, who previously served as a United States CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man, U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and the first Undersecretary for Global Affairs in U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's administration. Kathy Calvin
Kathy Calvin
Kathryn Bushkin Calvin is the chief executive officer of the United Nations Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2003, following a diverse career in politics, journalism, public relations, and business.-Professional background:...
is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. She previously served as the President of AOL Time Warner prior to becoming the CEO of the UN Foundation. Ted Turner serves as the Chairman of the Board. Other notable board members include Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
,and Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, an institution that provides microcredit to help its clients establish creditworthiness and financial self-sufficiency. In 2006 Yunus and Grameen received the Nobel Peace Prize...
amongst others.
Background of Foundation's involvement with the UN
When the UN Foundation started, it desired to assist the UN with a wide variety of issues, and bring attention to particular modern problems. The Foundation wished to help then Secretary-General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
with the problem of reforming the UN. They also desired to bolster UN programs that were viewed as successful, including children's health, population control, environment issues, and land-mines. One of their priorities was also to work with the private sector to raise more money for the UN. They also had the intention of raising awareness of the UN and its programs amongst the American population. They have had a close relationship with the UN and its leadership from the beginning in order to set goals and provide funding for particular programs.
Children's health
One of the global issues that the UN Foundation focuses on is children's health. They work closely with private sector partners and UN agencies in order to address a variety of children's health issues. One of their biggest campaigns is working to reduce the number of deaths from measlesMeasles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, 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...
. The Measles Initiative, as it called, is a partnership between the UN Foundation, the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
in order to provide measles vaccinations to children across the African continent. During the first year of this campaign, vaccines were distributed across 8 African countries, which vaccinated over 21 million children. This campaign not only focuses on vaccinating children, but also putting into place health infrastructure, and promoting better access to health-care across the continent. The UN Foundation also runs the Nothing But Nets Campaign, which is targeted at reducing malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
across the African continent. This campaign originally started when Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writer Patrick Reilley published an article asking his readers to donate money to a campaign to buy mosquito nets for those in Africa
Africa
Africa 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...
suffering from malaria. With support from the UN Foundation, Reilley's project got off the ground, and has to-date provided over 3.5 million nets across Africa.
Youth campaigns
The United Nations Foundation recently announced a new Global Entrepreneurs Council which is made up of 10 emerging entrepreneurs under the age of 40 who will work with the UN to address global issues in a 21st century mindset. They include the marketing director of FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, Randi Zuckerberg, the VP of Consumer Products at Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, Marissa Mayer, and the publisher of Variety Magazine, Brian Gott, amongst others.
Climate & energy
One of the largest global issues that the UN Foundation is involved in is climate change and energy. The UN Foundation focuses on sustainable energy, as well as climate change and the conservation of biodiversity. The Foundation's Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Program works with partners in the NGO sector, the UN, governments, and private corporations to come up with solutions and provide funding to programs related to this issue. One of their campaigns in relation to climate change and energy is to provide communities around the world with renewable energy technologies in order to promote sustainability globally.Haiti
The Foundation is working in conjunction with the music group Linkin ParkLinkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
in order to raise money and install solar-powered lights within displacement camps in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. Linkin Park's Music for Relief charity is working closely with the Foundation on funding this project. By providing lights in these camps, they are in turn reducing the amount of violence and rape directed at women and children, which often occurs at night when there is minimal visibility within these camps.
UN advocacy in the U.S.
The UN Foundation has an extremely close relationship with the UN, as it provides it with large amounts of money to fund programs. The UN Foundation, through its sponsorship and funding of the Better World CampaignBetter World Campaign
The 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...
, works to better the relationship between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Nations. The Better World Campaign
Better World Campaign
The 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 at Congress in order to ensure that the US fulfills its financial obligations to the United Nations, and that it repays its debt. The Better World Campaign allows the Foundation to have a direct channel to the US legislative and administrative powers.