About CGD

Achieving the sustainable development goals will require a commitment to evidence-informed policies that maximize returns on scarce resources. 

Over the last twenty years, our work has had a measurable impact on the actions of development policymakers—from our proposal to build a full-service development finance institution to our case to donors to elevate and strengthen efforts to tackle the scourge of global lead poisoning.  


Mission and Values

We work to reduce global poverty and improve lives through innovative economic research that drives better policy and practice by the world's top decision makers. We strive for excellence and intellectual rigor and believe global prosperity starts with smart policy based on evidence. Our work is nonpartisan, and our recommendations are not influenced by our funders. We are willing to challenge powerful institutions and the status quo for better development practices. 

We are committed to transparency, diversity, and professional and personal integrity. We recognize the inherent dignity of all persons and pledge ourselves to creating and maintaining an environment that recognizes and respects diverse groups of individuals and their experiences. We value mutual respect, a collegial workplace, and a healthy sense of humor. Explore our work on diversity, equity, and inclusion


Our Work

CGD is currently focused on the following areas critical to development progress:


Our Impact and Influence

Impact can take many forms—from shaping the academic consensus to turning proposals into policy. Sometimes, realizing the full potential of a good idea means letting it flower elsewhere and we take pride in our role as an incubator of initiatives like the Energy for Growth Hub and Labor Mobility Partnerships. We have also helped to change global policies and practices, yielding improvements in the health and well-being of populations across many parts of the globe. Learn more about our record of impact here


Our Leadership

Get to know our president, Dr. Rachel Glennerster and our executive team here. Our full staff directory is available here


Our Board of Directors

Our Board, led by former Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers, includes influential leaders with professional backgrounds in development, policy, finance, and academia. 


Our Funding

We are funded by a diverse group of foundations, corporations, governments and individuals who care about development and value rigorous, independent research undertaken to help inform changes in policy and practice. Given our commitment to transparency and accountability we publish all grants and gifts received over $30,000 USD here and we do not accept funding that seeks to impose limits or restrictions on our independence in research, findings, conclusions or resulting publications. You can read more about these policies below:  

You can view our Annual Reports here


Work with CGD

Learn about careers, fellowships, and internships at CGD.


Support CGD

We depend on the contributions of supporters like you. Please consider making a donation or getting involved in our work today! 


CGD's History

CGD was founded in November 2001 by Edward Scott Jr.C. Fred Bergsten, and Nancy Birdsall. A technology entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former US government official, Ed Scott provided the vision and financial commitment that made CGD possible. Fred Bergsten, director emeritus of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, lent his formidable reputation in academic and policy circles and provided CGD a temporary home within the Peterson Institute. Nancy Birdsall, a former head of the World Bank research department and executive vice president of the Inter-American Development Bank, became CGD’s first president. Her intellectual leadership attracted a cadre of researchers deeply dedicated to CGD’s mission.