The Borgen Project

In 1999, while working as a young volunteer in refugee camps during the Kosovo War and genocide, Clint Borgen recognized the need for an organization that could focus U.S. political attention on extreme poverty. In 2003, after graduating from Washington State University and interning at the United Nations, Borgen began developing the organization.

In need of startup funding, Borgen took a job living on a fishing vessel docked in Dutch Harbor, Alaska (the same location as “The Deadliest Catch”). From humble beginnings in one of the most remote regions of the world, The Borgen Project was born. One man with a laptop and a budget that came from his Alaska paychecks has evolved into a national campaign with supporters operating all over the globe.

 We meet with U.S. Congressional leaders to secure support for crucial poverty-reducing legislation. We mobilize people across the globe behind efforts to make poverty a political priority. We teach basic advocacy skills that allow citizens to communicate with their government. We build awareness of global issues and innovations in poverty-reduction through our online and community presence.