Resources
As of April 30, 2012, the market value of the Fund's investment assets total was $755.5 million.
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.
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.
Each summer, RBF grantee Focus the Nation selects 20 college students to participate in its ReCharge! retreat on Mount Hood in Oregon. Chosen as technicians, innovators, politicos, or storytellers, these rising leaders collaborate to explore the skills needed to advance clean energy solutions for the entirety of their careers.
The Americas Society has released the first comparative white paper that examines the economic impact of immigration-related city policies on the local business environment. The paper, The Economic Impact of Immigrant-Related Local Ordinances, focuses on 53 cities that passed either restrictive or non-restrictive city ordinances between 2006 and 2008, and which were still being enforced through 2009.
In response to the Architecture 2030 challenge for the building sector to become carbon neutral by the year 2030, a downtown Seattle neighborhood has transformed into the first ever high-performance district in the country.
The John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at the American University in Cairo and Innovations in Civic Participation have released a report identifying the youth-led actions that culminated in the January 2011 revolution in Egypt. The report, Youth Activism and Public Space in Egypt, includes profiles of three youth-led organizations, and analysis of the roles of social media and public art.
The 2010 Audited Financial Statement presents the financial position of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.
RBF grantee, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Inc. (CSIS) has published an analysis paper encouraging external institutions and government agencies to support a stronger public policy environment in the Middle East. CSIS's Middle East Program recommends that donors nurture the development of young leaders and the region's public policy environment by committing to long-term, sustained investments.
Most Albanian business leaders believe philanthropy helps to make their companies more successful, with 62 percent of the nearly 150 companies surveyed active in giving. Partners Albania, Center for Change and Conflict Management conducted a survey of philanthropic activity by Albanian enterprises. It recommends better tax incentives, more public recognition, and educating the public about corporate social responsiblity to bolster giving.
In March 2011, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s board of trustees approved the new direction of the Peacebuilding program (formerly known as Peace and Security). This paper served as the foundation for the program’s new framework and funding guidelines, and was the basis of discussion at the March 2011 board meeting.
RBF President and chair of the Center for Effective Philanthropy's (CEP) board Stephen Heintz, moderated a conversation with Michael J. Fox and Debi Brooks at the CEP's 2011 conference in Boston in May. Fox and Brooks, cofounders of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkison's Research discussed the intricacies of establishing their foundation in 2000, and centering their mission around addressing the urgency of Parkinson's research.
The Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) has published a report, which confirms that a public campaign finance policy would improve election participation. The new report is based on analysis of public financing in six Midwestern states during the elections of 2006-2010.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund's annual Statistical Review provides information on the Fund's investment performance and rate of spending, as well as an overview of program spending, grantmaking, Pocantico activities, human resources data, and an analysis of program spending.
RBF grantee Connexus Communications has produced a special five-part China Green series called "China/America: Green or Grey?" as part of its radio program, A World of Possibilities. Each part is an hour long, and contains in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs and green tech innovators in China and in the United States.
The Center for Governmental Studies, an RBF grantee, has published a report analyzing the outcomes of Albuquerque, New Mexico's new "clean money" public campaign financing law. The report, Public Campaign Financing in Albuquerque: Citizens Win with Clean Money Elections, found that the law witnessed a reduction in excessive campaign spending, and that in the last two elections, eight of the city's 10 elected officials accepted public campaign financing.
The Partnership for Public Service, Inc., an RBF grantee, has published a report entitled Toward Common Ends: The Foundation Sector and the Federal Government. It addresses the issue of the philanthropic community's role in ensuring the government operates effectively, and was first examined at a Pocantico conference in October 2009.
RBF grantee the National League of Cities Institute, Inc. has released an action guide to help local elected officials more effectively promote constructive civic participation that leads to problem solving. Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving presents seven principles along with best practices to help leaders strengthen democratic governance.
Stephen Heintz discussed the Rockefeller Brother Fund's experiences with mission-related investing during his keynote address at Confluence Philanthropy's Practitioners' Meeting on January 26, in New York City. Mr. Heintz encouraged the group of foundation leaders and financial advisors to prioritize mission-related investing, and talked about the RBF's early progress since helping to create the Sustainability Investments Initiative last year.
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has released a special edition of their China Environment Series. This 11th issue focuses on major energy trends in China and examines the energy and climate relations between the United States and China.
