About the Pledge - The Presidents' Pledge

The Presidents' Pledge Against Global Poverty

Ann M. Svennungsen, Director

Ann Svennungsen, past president of Texas Lutheran University and The Fund for Theological Education (FTE), started The Presidents' Pledge Against Global Poverty in 2010 in conversation with higher education colleagues.

Inspired by her cousin Dr. Norman Borlaug (founder of the Green Revolution and Nobel Peace Prize winner), Svennungsen has a long history of work toward social justice and the eradication of global poverty.
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The Presidents’ Pledge Against Global Poverty aims to make the greatest possible impact toward ending global poverty through the leadership and financial commitment of university and college presidents. We invite university presidents and chancellors—present and past—to join us in a leadership community that inspires greater awareness and action in the fight against extreme global poverty. Our members pledge a percentage of their annual income to combat severe poverty—a public commitment intended to spark increased focus, giving and collective resolve to end extreme poverty in our time.

PLEDGE PARTICIPANTS:

ANNUALLY PLEDGE a percentage of their personal income to organizations that address the causes or effects of global poverty. At least half of individual contributions focus on international projects; up to half of individual giving may be allocated to causes that alleviate poverty within the U.S. Participants give directly and individually to organizations of their choosing.
JOIN A COMMUNITY of university presidents, chancellors, past presidents and presidents emeriti committed to alleviating global poverty. Presidents are encouraged to add their names to the list on our website or, if preferred, presidents may make their pledges anonymously.

Presidents’ Pledge Members believe that personal giving to help end extreme poverty is a responsibility consistent with their leadership roles in higher education and society. College and university presidents and chancellors lead institutions that prepare the next generation of global citizens, public servants, social entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Higher education plays a vital role in forging new pathways to end extreme poverty. It does so through the research, teaching and public service of faculty and students who strive to aid and empower people in communities worldwide. Working together, leaders in higher education can help galvanize the collective will to lift more of the world’s people out of poverty now.

The Presidents' Pledge is a fiscally sponsored project of Bolder Giving, which inspires and supports people to give at their full lifetime potential. The Presidents' Pledge was launched with initial seed funding from a private donor and a special grant from The Henry Luce Foundation.