The organization was founded by Hugh Evans, Michael Sheldrick, Simon Moss and Wei Soo, and aims to increase the number and effectiveness of people taking action to support the cause.
The event raised $129.7 million for different charities, including the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
[22] This was followed up in June with Global Goal: Unite for Our Future, a virtual event focused on highlighting the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities.
[22] In 2020, Global Citizen won the Webby Award for Public Service and Activism in the category Apps, Mobile & Voice.
[30] Every year, ten to fifteen South African young adults are enrolled in the program where they serve paid, year-long fellowships with Global Citizen in Johannesburg.
[34] The campaign has involved more than 24,000 participants, has ‘started more than 400,000 conversations’ and raised more than $5 million for partner organisations working to fight poverty.
[citation needed] Since launch the campaign has gained signatures from more than 25,000 people and secured an additional $118 million in pledges for polio eradication.
The next day 4 Governments and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed an additional $118 million to global polio eradication efforts.
[49][24] On September 26, 2015 the Global Citizen Festival was hosted by Stephen Colbert, Hugh Jackman and popular YouTube personalities Matthew Santoro and AsapScience.
[52] The three additional prizes were awarded to Nnameka Ikegwuonu who founded ColdHubs; Farhad Wajdi for Ebtakar Inspiring Entrepreneurs of Afghanistan Organization; and Muzalema Mwanza for her Safe Motherhood Alliance.