Grantmaking

Overview

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund awarded 315 grants, totaling $28,026,574, in 2011. This amount differs from the grants paid figure ($28,305,845) as some grants awarded in prior years are payable over more than one year. The Fund entered the year with approximately 24 percent of the grantmaking budget committed for payment on grants awarded in prior years—a lower level than in previous years. This allowed staff to recommend more grants in 2011.

Grantmaking figures include contributions received from external sources used to support the Fund’s grantmaking programs. With a special donor contribution, the RBF launched a new grantmaking initiative in 2011 to support the democratic transition in Egypt. In total, the Fund received $1.8 million from individuals and other foundations to support its grantmaking in Egypt and its Sustainable Development program.

Grants categorized as “Other” primarily reflect the Fund’s support of nonprofit and philanthropic infrastructure organizations, as well as grants to longtime partners of the Fund (Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation and the Asian Cultural Council). Final grants for the Pivotal Place: South Africa program were awarded during the first quarter of 2009.

The average grant period remained at 1.2 years while the average size of a grant increased from $83,045 in 2010 to $88,973 in 2011.

Type of Grant Support

Twenty-seven percent of all grant dollars awarded in 2011 provided general support to assist grantees in meeting core operating costs. While this figure represents an increase from 2010, it is consisent with previous years and reflects a rise in general support grants across the Fund’s grantmaking programs.

Location of Grantees

U.S. organizations were awarded 77 percent of all new grant dollars approved in 2011. This is a slight decrease from prior years, and likely reflects staff’s continued efforts to support organizations in the countries where the Fund is working. Forty-one percent of the Fund’s grantmaking was awarded for work outside of the United States. This figure varies with the calculation of grants awarded to U.S. organizations since grants may be awarded to a U.S.-headquartered organization for its work overseas.

Declinations

The Fund declined 502 requests for support in 2011. This is a significant decrease from recent years, and likely reflects the Fund’s efforts to further clarify its program guidelines and funding practices, including a redesigned website. This record of declinations does not include informal inquiries about the likelihood of Fund support. New grantees received 27 percent of grants awarded in 2011, and of grants awarded to previous grantees, 40 percent were for new purposes.