The Clinton Global Initiative

Stemming from the Clinton Foundation and serving among others like it is The Clinton
Global Initiative. This was created in 2005 by none other than President Bill Clinton. The
Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) is but one of several other initiatives of the Clinton Foundation,
which is a non-profit foundation also established by the former President of the United States.
The foundation is focused on improving multiple issues, at a local level or a global level, which
is reason for the creation of multiple initiatives and encompassing a number of efforts and
entities.
While the CGI is one of the initiatives of the Clinton Foundation, the initiative itself
stems from it several groups. There is CGI America, CGI Latin America, and CGI Middle East &
Africa, etc. This means that there is not necessarily any primary location; however, we could say
that its roots and connections have settled in New York. The CGI even has its large annual
meeting in New York where major heads of the involved government, CEOs/business leaders,
and prominent members of the media gather to discuss the initiatives major global issues and
ideas that they feel need to be addressed.
CGIs major heads include the 42th president of the Unites President himself, William
Jefferson Clinton, the former elected president of the United States in 1992 and 1996; President
Bill Clinton is perhaps most positively known for leading the country through the longest
economic expansion in its history. A previous Executive director of one of the Clinton
Foundations childhood obesity initiative also serves as a major member. His name is Robert S.
Harrison and he is the Chief Executive Officer.

Members are actually the organizations themselves, making CGIs membership to be

made up of a collection of companies, foundations, or governmental organizations. While
membership is only through invitation only, an organization may be considered if they fill out an
inquiry form. The purpose of the organization is dependent on the cohesiveness of its members.
CGIs goal is to help maximize their members social impact through connecting and developing
new opportunities to allow for measurable change. CGI seeks to gather those individuals who
desire to accomplish new solutions to some of the worlds greatest challenges and it does so by
building new relationships. This initiative believes some organizations have many goals and
ideas in mind to help people, and together we can help each other accomplish it faster, better, and
much easier.
From its beginning, CGI has resolved and aided a large number of issues around the
world. The plans that are used to tackle significant global challenges become Commitments to
Action; the defining feature of this particular initiative. Up till now, the CGI community has
made nearly 3,200 commitments which have positively impacted the lives of over 430 million
people in more than 180 countries. For a major challenge to become a commitment to action it
must fulfill three basic requirements and follow these certain guidelines. The solution or idea for
a goal in mind must be new or expansive to an already succeeding program. It must be specific,
containing an outline of clear objectives that can be accomplished in a certain period of time and
be able to express a clear outcome in its effort. And lastly, it must be measurable. The
commitment must have specific quantitative or qualitative goals that can be tracked and observed
overtime. Progress must be reported.
Just by the amount of work and accomplishments that this initiative has already done is
reason for how important this particular initiative is to a sustainable world. The world has its

global issues, but every country has its own issues to deal with as well. A commitment does not
need to impact the entire world, it only seeks to resolve or relieve the issues that certainly have
had an impact on its people and the environment. The initiative pushes for sustainability, and it
does so by pushing its members to forward their ideas and solutions to be implemented. It is an
organization that supports progression for everyone, not just the United States or other already
developed countries. With this way of thinking, this has also opened opportunities for the young
minds who seek careers in actually improving the lives of people around the world with
innovative or simply inspiring ideas. Ideas are the beginnings of solutions. Many of its members
have ideas; they just need help in implementing them.
The success of the initiative is greatly inspiring. Funding for commitments has reached
well over $85 billion and continues to grow today. I believe this particular initiative is the most
important of the Clinton foundation becomes it encourages global progress and inspires others to
offer aid across the world. It reveals the world issues that we didnt know are currently
happening at this moment. Most importantly, the initiative has lead and continues to lead
individuals to get involved, whether by simply volunteering or actively taking a part in becoming
a pivotal change in offering the next great solution to a daunting challenge.

Sources:
http://www.clintonfoundation.org/files/clintonfoundationaccomplishments.pdf
http://booksforkeeps.org/clinton-global-initiative/
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/files/cgi_commitments_portfolio_analysis_2005-2013.pdf
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative/about-us/cgi-mission