ðɪ ˌɔːɹɡɐnᵻzˈeɪʃən wʌz ɪstˈæblɪʃt ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn ɪn wˈɑːʃɪŋtən dˈiː.sˈiː. baɪ mˈaɪkəl kˈɑːɹlən, ɐn ɐmˈɛɹɪkən ɐtˈɜːni ænd sˈoʊʃəl ˌɑːntɹɪpɹənˈʊɹ.
The organization was established in 1999 in Washington D.C. by Michael Karlan, an American attorney and social entrepreneur.