One Campaign
ONE Campaign is a global, nonpartisan advocacy organization founded in 2004 by U2 lead singer Bono, activist Bobby Shriver, and a coalition of humanitarian groups, dedicated to combating extreme poverty and preventable diseases, especially in Africa, by lobbying governments and international bodies for greater financial commitments and policy reforms.[1][2] Operating without direct government funding or service delivery, it relies on data analysis, public mobilization of millions of supporters, and high-level political engagement to drive change, with offices across multiple continents.[1][3] The group claims significant impact, including contributions to securing over $1 trillion in development investments and advancing commitments under frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals.[4][5] Its campaigns, often featuring celebrity endorsements and grassroots actions, have raised awareness for issues such as debt relief and health funding, yet the efficacy of the foreign aid it promotes remains contentious among economists, who cite evidence of corruption, economic distortion, and dependency in recipient nations rather than sustained growth.[6][7] Internal challenges, including allegations of workplace harassment and leadership opacity reported by former staff, have also surfaced.[8][9] Despite these, ONE maintains a focus on empirical policy targeting, emphasizing investments in areas like vaccination and economic opportunity over indiscriminate aid.[10]
Overview
Mission and Objectives
The ONE Campaign's mission is to fight for a more just world by demanding investments that create economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa.[11] The organization envisions a global landscape where Africa participates as an equal partner in international decision-making and where individuals across the continent access abundant economic prospects while leading thriving, healthy existences.[11] This focus stems from its founding emphasis on advocacy rather than direct service delivery, positioning ONE as a nonpartisan entity that leverages public pressure to influence policy.[1] Key objectives center on uniting citizens, activists, and experts to persuade governments, institutions, and private sectors toward substantive policy reforms and funding commitments.[11] ONE builds political capital through grassroots mobilization, rigorous data analysis, and strategic partnerships, targeting barriers such as inequality, preventable diseases, climate vulnerability, and limited access to education and gender-equal opportunities.[11] By empowering local and global citizens to monitor and challenge leaders on aid effectiveness and resource allocation, the campaign aims to foster accountability and sustainable development, particularly in low-income African nations.[1] These objectives manifest in targeted advocacy for increased international financing, fair trade policies, and health system strengthening, with historical efforts including campaigns for debt relief and vaccine equity.[12] ONE avoids government funding to maintain independence, relying instead on philanthropic and corporate support to amplify demands for efficient, high-impact investments that prioritize measurable outcomes over indefinite aid dependency.[1]Founding Principles and Evolution
The ONE Campaign was established in May 2004 as a non-partisan advocacy organization, emerging from the merger of the DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) initiative—launched in 2002 by Bono and Bobby Shriver—with a coalition of 11 humanitarian and advocacy groups including CARE USA and Bread for the World.[1] Its founding principles emphasized mobilizing millions of supporters to influence policymakers toward evidence-based foreign aid increases, debt cancellation for heavily indebted poor countries, fairer trade terms, and scaled-up funding to combat HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases in Africa, with a goal of directing an additional 0.7% of national incomes from wealthy nations to development assistance.[13] These principles were rooted in the belief that targeted, accountable aid could break cycles of poverty without reliance on direct charitable distribution, as ONE positioned itself as a lobbying entity rather than a grant-making body.[14] Early campaigns, such as the 2005 Live 8 concerts and the "Make Poverty History" effort, embodied these tenets by pressuring G8 leaders at the Gleneagles Summit to commit $50 billion in aid, including debt relief for 18 African nations and enhanced HIV treatment access, resulting in over 2.8 million signatures collected for policy petitions.[15] ONE's operational independence was maintained by forgoing government funds, relying instead on private philanthropy, foundations, and corporate partnerships to sustain advocacy free from donor influence.[1] Over time, ONE's principles have evolved from crisis-response priorities—such as urgent AIDS funding under PEPFAR, which by 2008 supported 2.1 million on antiretrovirals—to a sustained emphasis on systemic investments fostering economic growth, job creation, and resilient health systems in Africa, informed by data on aid efficacy and governance accountability.[16] This shift incorporated broader objectives like gender equality in economic opportunities and vaccine equity during the COVID-19 pandemic, where ONE advocated for $100 billion in global funding to achieve 70% coverage in low-income countries by 2022, while critiquing inefficiencies in aid delivery through reports on illicit financial flows draining $1 trillion annually from developing economies.[12][17] By 2024, the mission had refined to demanding policy reforms for healthier lives and dignified futures, adapting to emerging challenges like climate impacts on migration and disease without diluting its Africa-centric, results-oriented core.[11] This evolution reflects empirical assessments of past interventions, prioritizing measurable outcomes over indefinite aid dependency, though critics have questioned the long-term impact of advocacy-driven pledges amid persistent poverty metrics.[14]Organizational Structure and Operations
Leadership and Key Figures
The ONE Campaign was co-founded in 2004 by U2 lead singer Bono (Paul Hewson), nephew of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, along with Bobby Shriver and other activists focused on mobilizing public support to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases, particularly in Africa.[18][19] Bono has remained a prominent figure, leveraging his celebrity influence for advocacy, including high-profile campaigns like the 2005 Live 8 concerts and Product Red initiative tied to ONE's goals.[18] Bobby Shriver, a key co-founder, continues to serve on the Board of Directors, bringing experience from founding organizations like Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa (DATA), which merged into ONE.[20] Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli serves as President and CEO, appointed on February 20, 2024, succeeding Gayle Smith who led from 2013 to early 2024.[21] Nwuneli, a Nigerian entrepreneur with over 25 years in international development, founded LEAP Africa and AACE Foods, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School; her tenure emphasizes African-led solutions and private-sector engagement in poverty alleviation.[22] Prior leaders include Jamie Drummond, an early executive director who shaped ONE's policy advocacy from its inception through 2010.[20] The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Tom Freston, former CEO of MTV Networks and Viacom, which includes diverse experts in business, policy, and philanthropy such as Aliko Dangote (Africa's richest industrialist), Joshua Bolten (former White House Chief of Staff), Anne Finucane (Bank of America executive), Clare Akamanzi (CEO of Rwanda Development Board), and Joe Cerrell (global advocacy leader).[20] In October 2025, the board expanded with five new appointees, including Wemimo Abbey (co-founder and co-CEO of Ventures Platform, a leading African venture capital firm), to strengthen ties with African innovation and global finance.[23] This structure supports ONE's nonpartisan operations, with the board overseeing strategy while a separate Global Leadership Circle provides financial backing from philanthropists.[20]Funding and Financial Transparency
The ONE Campaign, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, derives its funding primarily from private contributions, grants, and program service revenue, deliberately avoiding government funding to preserve its nonpartisan advocacy stance.[24] Revenue sources include donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partnerships, notably through the (RED) initiative, which generates proceeds from branded product sales directed to global health efforts like The Global Fund.[24] In 2023, contributions and grants accounted for approximately $17.1 million of total revenue, with program service revenue adding about $1.98 million.[25] For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, the organization reported total revenue of $18.25 million against expenses of $33.03 million, resulting in a drawdown from reserves but maintaining end-of-year net assets of $20.41 million.[25] Expense allocation emphasized programmatic activities, with 84% ($27.80 million) directed toward advocacy, awareness campaigns, and policy work; 14% ($4.55 million) to management and general operations; and 2% ($0.68 million) to fundraising.[25] While specific donor names are not publicly disclosed in IRS filings to protect privacy—Schedule B lists three major contributors totaling over $8.8 million without identification—the organization's financials reflect reliance on a concentrated set of high-value supporters, consistent with patterns in celebrity-led advocacy groups.[25][26] Transparency practices align with U.S. nonprofit standards, including annual IRS Form 990 filings publicly available via the organization's website and third-party databases, providing detailed revenue breakdowns, executive compensation (e.g., CEO salary around $500,000 in recent years), and audited financial statements.[24][25] The affiliated ONE Action, a 501(c)(4) entity for lobbying, files separate disclosures showing minimal direct political contributions ($3,625 in the 2024 cycle) and no reported lobbying expenditures that year.[27] Critics, including fiscal watchdogs, have noted that while aggregate data is accessible, the lack of itemized donor lists limits scrutiny of potential influence from major philanthropists like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has historically supported similar poverty-focused initiatives but is not explicitly confirmed as a primary funder in ONE's disclosures.[26] Overall, ONE's reporting meets legal requirements without evidence of systemic opacity, though its deficit spending raises questions about long-term sustainability absent increased donations.[25]| Category | Amount (2023) | Percentage of Total Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Program Services | $27,797,227 | 84% |
| Management & General | $4,551,687 | 14% |
| Fundraising | $680,878 | 2% |
| Total Expenses | $33,029,792 | 100% |