Clinton Foundation

The Clinton Foundation, launched in 2001 as the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation and rebranded in 2013 as the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in New York City. Founded by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, its mission is to "strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence." The organization focuses on health access, climate change, economic development, and women's empowerment, operating in over 70 countries.

Its flagship program, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), has been instrumental in reducing the cost of antiretroviral drugs and expanding HIV/AIDS treatment to millions in Africa and Asia. The Clinton Climate Initiative works with cities to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while the Clinton Development Initiative supports smallholder farmers in rural Africa. The foundation also launched the Alliance for a Healthier Generation with the American Heart Association to combat childhood obesity.

Since its inception, the foundation has raised over $2 billion, leveraging the Clinton family's extensive network of political and business leaders. Annual revenue sits around $200 million, with a staff of approximately 2,000. The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a related convening arm, has hosted annual meetings since 2005 where participants make public commitments to action, driving thousands of projects worldwide.[edit]

The Clinton Foundation's mission is to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. This translates into four core areas: improving global health, increasing opportunity for women and girls, reducing childhood obesity and creating healthier communities, and building resilience to climate change. The foundation aims to create partnerships between governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals to drive measurable, scalable impact.[edit]

Bill Clinton began planning the foundation in 1997, while still in the White House, envisioning a vehicle for his post-presidential philanthropy. It officially launched in 2001 as the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, with an initial focus on the Clinton Presidential Library and broader policy work.

In 2002, the foundation established the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, later renamed the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), which negotiated deep discounts on antiretroviral drugs from pharmaceutical companies, dramatically expanding access in developing countries. By 2005, the foundation launched the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an annual meeting where world leaders, CEOs, and philanthropists make public commitments to action. CGI quickly became a major forum for cross-sector collaboration, generating thousands of commitments worth billions of dollars.

The 2010 Haiti earthquake prompted a major relief effort, with the foundation raising over $30 million and coordinating with the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. In 2013, the foundation rebranded to the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, reflecting the growing involvement of Hillary and Chelsea. During Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, the foundation faced intense scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest, including foreign donations and meetings between donors and the State Department. An internal State Department investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing, but the controversy led to new ethics guidelines, including a ban on foreign government donations while Hillary was a candidate.[edit]