Philanthropy for an Interdependent World
RBF Programs
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund's grantmaking is organized around three themes: Democratic Practice, Sustainable Development, and Peace and Security and four pivotal places: New York City, South Africa, Western Balkans, and Southern China. On October 12, 2006, the RBF trustees approved a new cross-programmatic grantmaking initiative on energy.
Program update: In November 2008, the RBF board of trustees decided to conclude the Human Advancement program. The core interests of the Human Advancement program—leadership, diversity, equity, and arts and culture—will continue to receive attention in the other RBF programs. A key component of the Human Advancement program, the Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color, was transferred to the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, effective January 2009.
Democratic Practice
For democracy to flourish and deliver on its promises, its citizens must be engaged, empowered, and assertive.
Read more »
Sustainable Development
Human activity is causing the depletion of essential resources, global warming, rapid loss of biodiversity, and accelerating degradation of Earth's life support systems. Read more »
Peace and Security
Currently, we are undertaking a strategic review of the Peace and Security program in order to reevaluate our guidelines and refocus our priorities based on our experiences to date and the changing global context. Read more »
Pivotal Places
The Fund has identified several pivotal places on which to concentrate cross-programmatic grantmaking attention. Read more »
Cross-Programmatic Initiative: Energy
In 2006, the Fund decided to examine the issue of sustainable energy as a cross cutting-programmatic theme. Read more »
Pocantico Center: Programs & Conference Center
Pocantico is located 20 miles north of Manhattan in the Pocantico Historic Area. Read more »
Close-Up
2007 Fellow: Brence Pernell
"My summer experience not only confirmed my desire to become a teacher, but it really brought to the forefront some of the issues concerning rural education that I'm interested in, such as over-crowdedness in the classroom and lack of resources."