Global Citizen - Organization of the Year

Company: Global Citizen, New York, NY
Entry Submitted By: Sunshine Sachs
Company Description: Global Citizen’s focus is to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. In 2020, with the growing spread of COVID-19, Global Citizen realized this virus would have a massive impact on the ability to reach that goal. Estimates have stated the economic impact of COVID-19 could force 71 million more people into extreme poverty. Global Citizen immediately pivoted their work to lead the global response.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Organization of the Year - Non-Profit or Government - Medium

Nomination Title: Global Citizen

Global Citizen is a movement of engaged citizens who are using their collective voice to end extreme poverty by 2030. On our platform, Global Citizens learn about the systemic causes of extreme poverty, take action on those issues, and earn rewards for their actions — as part of a global community committed to lasting change. Since 2011, millions of Global Citizens around the world have taken over 24 million actions targeting world leaders to end extreme poverty by 2030. To date, the actions by our global community along with our high level advocacy efforts and with our partners, have resulted in commitments and policy announcements from leaders, valued at over $48 billion that have impacted more than 880 million people by 2030.

In 2020, with the spread of COVID-19, Global Citizen immediately realized that this virus would have a massive impact on the ability to reach the goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. Estimates have stated that the economic impact of COVID-19 could force an additional 71 million people into extreme poverty, and push those who are already struggling into a deeper hole. Global Citizen immediately pivoted their work to lead the global response.

At the beginning of March, Global Citizen launched a concert series called “Together at Home,” to support the WHO’s COVID-19 relief efforts. Over the course of 143 concerts performed by the world’s biggest artists, like Chris Martin, Niall Horan, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson, Global Citizen encouraged audiences to stay home and stay safe.

The effort culminated in “One World: Together at Home,” an international broadcast special produced in just 3 weeks. Curated by Lady Gaga, and hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, the special secured $127.9 million for frontline healthcare workers and the WHO. It was viewed by more than 300 million people worldwide across 180 countries.

A few months later, Global Citizen launched the “Global Goal: Unite for Our Future” pledging campaign and concert. They brought together 41 governments and secured $6.9 billion to ensure that everyone, everywhere would have access to testing, treatments and vaccines. Because of Global Citizen’s work, the goal is for 250 million vaccine doses to be made available to the world's poorest countries.

Global Citizen’s work has always played a crucial role in the global effort to combat extreme poverty. Since its founding, Global Citizen has become known for their annual in-person Festivals around the world - from New York’s Central Park, to Berlin, Mumbai, Johannesburg, and more - bringing together pop, policy, and advocacy in support of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

This year in particular, Global Citizen’s role on the global stage has been critical in the effort to combat this virus. Their quick pivot to address the pandemic ensured that there was a cohesive virtual campaign from nearly 150 artists and influencers to encourage audiences to stay at home, with the “Together at Home” concert series. Their “One World: Together at Home” special secured badly needed funds for COVID-19 relief efforts - as well as envisioned a new format for entertainment during quarantine. “Global Goal: Unite for Our Future” was a momentous effort that secured billions of dollars and brought together 41 governments and agencies to form the first joint global effort to ensure the equitable development and delivery of treatments and vaccines to everyone, everywhere. Without Global Citizen’s leadership, it is quite possible that the worldwide effort to defeat this virus would not be in as positive a position as it stands now.