News

Sustainable Development

Clean economic growth has the potential to raise GDP contributions to $142.7 billion in the United States' West Coast region by 2020, growing clean economy jobs by 200 percent over current numbers, according to a report published by Globe Advisors with RBF grantee The Center for Climate Strategies. The three key sectors with the highest potential for job growth are energy efficiency and green building, environmental protection and resource management, and clean transportation.

News & Announcements
Democratic Practice

Civic Engagement: The Next Chapter sheds light on the critical role human service organizations play in strengthening democracy in the United States by developing and supporting an engaged and active citizenry. The report was released by the Alliance for Children and Families, an RBF grantee, and its sister organization United Neighborhood Centers of America.

News & Announcements
Democratic Practice

The Center for Political Accountability has reached a major milestone, as 100 companies have committed to its framework for political transparency and accountability. During this 2012 proxy season, 12 additional companies have adopted corporate disclosure of political spending, including Halliburton, one of the country's largest oil field service companies, and supermarket chain Safeway.

News & Announcements
Peacebuilding

The world has been making progress in recognizing the importance of gender issues in conflict areas, but not enough has been done on the ground, according to the Peace and Security Funders Group's new report, Philanthropic Investments in the Emerging Field of Women, Peace and Security. The report examines the significance of empowering and protecting women in conflict areas and the urgency to fund these efforts.

Publication
Democratic Practice

The Investigative News Network (INN) has been granted nonprofit 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. INN's new tax status will allow the organization to receive support directly from foundations and other donors, making it easier for the organization to help its member news organizations in producing and distributing reliable investigative and public service reporting.

News & Announcements
RBF

In 2008, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund launched a foundation-wide project to assess and improve diversity within its operations and grantmaking. The 2012 Diversity Project update summarizes the Fund’s progress in collecting and analyzing data on human resources, operations, grantmaking, public programs, and conference activities. This report also provides a brief update on board diversity, which was previously examined by staff in 2010.

Program Impact
Sustainable Development

By 2030, the sea level along many of the United States' coasts will rise at least four feet, affecting the nearly five million residents who live in homes on land below this level, according to a report published by Climate Central. New data from the report, Surging Seas, and the accompanying website, are featured in a front-page New York Times article, detailing the sea level rise that has already doubled the annual risk of coastal flooding in the country.

News & Announcements
China

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has made revisions to its Southern China program guidelines, primarily aiming to refine the strategies under the environment and health goal. While there has not been a significant change in the direction of the Fund’s current work in southern China, the changes reflect the RBF’s grantmaking experience in the region over the past six years.

News & Announcements
Peacebuilding

The OneVoice Movement, a project of RBF grantee the PeaceWorks Network Foundation, organized a flash mob in Jerusalem's Zion Square in January. The purpose of the flash mob, where participants simultaneously froze in place for five minutes, was to bring attention to the need to move forward on negotiations for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Photo & Video
Democratic Practice

Shareholders want to know where corporations are spending their political dollars, according to a new report released by corporate watchdog groups. In an interview on National Public Radio's Morning Edition on February 28, 2012, Bruce Freed, president of the Center for Political Accountability (CPA), said investors need to understand the risks of corporate spending in politics.

News & Announcements