![]() ![]() In response the UN established an Office for Partnerships to engage directly, for the first time, with NGOs and private sector organisations. Indeed, not only was the Foundation pivotal in leveraging an additional $1bn in donations for UN priority causes, but also it established an effective partnership model working with the UN as well as a range of charities, campaigns and government programmes on a global basis. “They trusted us, and I think, over the last 10 years, we have succeeded in earning that trust,” Turner reflected. The Foundation had an auspicious start: Kofi Annan, then UN Secretary General, gave the Foundation approval to use the United Nations name. We were like Columbus – we started without knowing where we were going we just knew we were going on a voyage.” He explained, “This was a new model so we did not know what to expect. Turner originally envisioned the foundation as a project that would sunset after 10 years. We need an international body where countries can work out differences and collaborate to find global solutions to global problems.” “We would not have made it through the Cold War without it. “The UN is vital to the future of humanity,” Turner told Philanthropy UK. Instead, Turner set up a foundation to fund causes in parallel with UN priorities. However at the time the UN could not accept donations from private individuals or companies, only nation states. The CNN founder, who was worth about $3bn at the time of the gift, originally intended to give the money to the United Nations, to ‘compensate’ for the United States then being about $1bn in arrears in its dues. Writing a $1bn cheque to set up the Foundation in 1998 “was the best decision I ever made,” says Turner. “.every morning brought a noble chance, And every chance brought out a noble knight.” ![]()
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