The Borgen Project

1. Improve living conditions for those living on less than $1.25 per day.
2. Improve the United States response to the global poverty crises.
3. Build a network of volunteers that spans all 50 U.S. states.

1. Meet directly with members of Congress.
2. Build public awareness, primarily focusing on web-based strategies.
3. Build a national network of advocacy-focused volunteers.
4. Mobilize public action.

The Borgen Project has built a strong and influential platform to advocate for the world's poor.

In 2018, The Borgen Project held 774 Congressional meetings while building support for the key poverty-reduction legislation. The Borgen Project operates with grassroots volunteers in over 830 cities.

The Borgen Project helped pass the following legislation during the 115th Congress (2017-18).

BUILD Act: The Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act is the most ambitious reform to development financing in a generation. The bill created the first-ever U.S. International Development Financing Corporation (IDFC), which will help entrepreneurs secure financing and spark economic growth in developing countries. The BUILD Act was signed into law on October 3, 2018.

AGOA & MCA Modernization Act: The bill builds on the success of both the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programs. The bill gives the MCC the authority to develop a second concurrent compact with countries, which allows them to address deficiencies in their communications, transportation, and energy networks. The bill also increases the success of the AGOA program, which builds trade partnerships between sub-Saharan African countries and the U.S. by requiring the State Department to better promote the program with governments and businesses. The bill passed unanimously and was signed into law on April 23, 2018.

PEPFAR Extension Act: The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was launched in 2003 by President Bush to address the global AIDS crisis. Since the program launched, the U.S. has invested more than $70 billion in prevention, testing, and treatment programs reaching millions around the world. In 2018, the U.S. Congress recognized the success and importance of PEPFAR by extending it for an additional five years. The PEPFAR Extension Act passed unanimously and was signed into law on December 11, 2018.

Global Health Innovation Act: The bill requires the administrator of USAID to submit an annual report to Congress on the “development and use of global health innovations in the programs, projects and activities of the Agency,” thus ensuring that USAID continues to prioritize scaling up successes in its global health programs. The bill passed overwhelmingly and was signed into law on January 3, 2019.

Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act: The bill was signed into law on January 14, 2019. This critical legislation increases transparency, improves coordination and intensifies the impact of efforts to support access to primary and secondary education for displaced people, with a specific focus on the educational needs of women and girls.