Philanthropy for an Interdependent World
The Pocantico Center
Since its opening in April 1994, The Pocantico Center has both complemented and extended the impact of the Fund's grantmaking programs. The Pocantico Center serves the common good locally, nationally, and globally in creative and innovative ways that are consistent with Rockefeller family philanthropic traditions and that further the missions and reflect the values of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Programs for conferences are designed by RBF staff, grantees, and/or outside groups whose objectives are consistent with those of the Fund. Programs are selected based on five criteria:
- The direct and strong relationship of the conference to the RBF's program objectives;
- The diversity of perspectives, range of opinions, and breadth of experience that will be represented;
- The involvement of skilled, experienced conference leaders, organizers, or facilitators;
- The clarity of conference objectives, of the agenda that will accomplish those objectives and, as appropriate, of the steps to be taken following the conference; and
- The demonstrated added value of having The Pocantico Center as the site of the meeting.
Approximately 60 meetings (conferences, seminars, and workshops) are held annually at the Center, the majority of them two- or three-day events designed by RBF staff, grantees, or other nonprofit or public sector organizations. The Center also hosts a limited number of foundation retreats and smaller one-day meetings. Certain RBF-sponsored meetings result in the publication of occasional papers; these Pocantico Papers are intended to bring meeting proceedings or outcomes to the broader attention of policymakers, specialists in the field, and the general public.
In addition to the conferences, the RBF assumed the responsibility of providing public access to the property and overseeing a visitation program at Kykuit operated on behalf of the Fund by Historic Hudson Valley. To date, there have been 605,198 visitors—including 35,112 in 2007—who toured Kykuit, its galleries and gardens, and the carriage and automobile collections in the Coach Barn.
ELIGIBILITY
Nonprofit organizations and public sector institutions, both domestic and foreign, are eligible to apply. If yours is a domestic organization it must have a 501(c) (3) status. In all cases, the objectives of the proposed meeting must be consistent with the program interests of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Applications for annual or routine organizational meetings, or for fundraising events, are not eligible for consideration. Please review the RBF Program Statement and Guidelines.
LOBBYING
As a tax-exempt private foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund is prohibited by the Internal Revenue Code from engaging in or supporting, including through the use of its facilities, any lobbying activities. (The restrictions that apply to private foundations are stronger than those for "public" charities.) Actual lobbying activities, or the planning or organizing of lobbying activities, are not appropriate for the Conference Center. Educational activities which do not fall into either of these categories are appropriate for the Conference Center. For further information, please see Treasury Regulations § 56.4911-2(b) and § 53.4945-2.
Financial Arrangements
Because the Conference Center is supported by a private endowment that covers the expenses of general maintenance and operation, the costs of Pocantico meetings are significantly lower than they otherwise would be.
Meetings are financed in a variety of ways. The meeting organizer may be asked to provide full financing. In other instances, expenses may be shared between RBF and the meeting organizer. In still other cases, RBF may pay all direct costs (i.e., room and board).
If you wish the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to consider covering all or some of your meeting costs, please indicate that on the application form under "Funding Sources."
As a general policy, the Conference Center does not provide funding for air or ground transportation.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants should submit the online application form and accompanying materials as requested. If your application is taken up for consideration, you may be asked to provide additional information about your organization or proposed meeting. Applications may also be mailed to the following address: The Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, 200 Lake Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591, or faxed to (914) 524-6550. Please do not hesitate to call the Conference Center staff at (914) 524-6500 if you have any questions.
The Pocantico Conference Selection Committee, which is made up of the president of RBF, its vice president for Programs and its executive director and associate executive director of Pocantico Programs, is responsible for determining which meetings will be held at the Conference Center. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Pocantico Conference Center Online Application >
MEETING FACILITIES
The Center's meeting facilities are located in the Coach Barn, a large ivy-covered stone structure that houses both meeting rooms and guest rooms. The building's interior has been renovated and adapted to offer two main meeting rooms and several additional spaces for break-out discussions. Wireless High Speed Internet is available in the entire Coach Barn (Conference Center) building as well as on the bedroom floors at Kykuit. The Center is well supplied with audio-visual equipment, fax machines, and computers (IBM-compatible) for use by meeting participants, the Center also provides facilities for simultaneous translation. Secretarial services are generally provided by meeting organizers.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Guests are lodged on the second floor of the Coach Barn (Conference Center) and on the third and fourth floors of Kykuit. All accommodations have a private bath. Hair dryers are also provided in each bedroom and adapters for electric razors are available upon request. Electrical service is 115 volts/60 cycles.
DRESS
In keeping with the Fund's programmatic emphasis on global warming and the desire to mitigate RBF's carbon footprint, guests at Pocantico should dress comfortably according to the season.
SMOKING POLICY
Guests may not smoke indoors, either at Kykuit or in the Coach Barn (Conference Center).
RECREATION
Guests are welcome to stroll the Coach Barn (Conference Center) and Kykuit grounds, including Kykuit's lovely gardens, or may go jogging on the roads and trails outside the estate.
TELEPHONE, FACSIMILE & BUSINESS CENTER
Each bedroom at the Coach Barn (Conference Center) and Kykuit has a private telephone number with voice mail, and phone calls may be received 24 hours a day. During conference sessions messages will be taken by the center's staff at 914.524.6500. Facsimile messages may be sent during normal business hours from the Conference Center. Faxes are received 24 hours a day at 914.524.6550 and distributed as promptly as possible. Computers are available for the use of conferees in the business center of the Conference Center with IBM-compatible machines, as well as commonly used word-processing, presentation, spreadsheet programs and high speed Internet access. Please note, however, that computer assistance is not available. Wireless Internet access is available in the entire Coach Barn (Conference Center) building as well as on the bedroom floors at Kykuit.
