History

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund is a private, family foundation helping to advance social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. It was created in 1940 by the sons of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.—John 3rd, Nelson, Winthrop, Laurance, and David—as a vehicle by which they could share advice and research on charitable activities and coordinate their philanthropic efforts to better effect. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. made a substantial gift to the Fund in 1951, and in 1960 the Fund received a major bequest from his estate. Together, these constitute the original endowment of the Fund.

In 1991, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund leased from the National Trust for Historic Preservation the portion of the Rockefeller estate bequeathed to the Trust by Nelson Rockefeller. Subsequently, through the generosity of members of the Rockefeller family, the Fund created the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in the estate's Coach Barn as an extension of its grantmaking activities.