Executive Vice President Betsy Campbell Looks West

Over the last 18 and a half years, Betsy Campbell has quietly and profoundly left her mark on the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. While she has never sought the spotlight, her leadership has touched every staff member, trustee, and grantee—and has influenced philanthropic practice well beyond our walls.

When I hired Betsy in the spring of 2007, I knew I had found a trusted partner. Today, I announce her departure from the RBF as a true friend. 

At the end of February, Betsy will step down from her role as executive vice president for programs and communications to become chief philanthropy officer at the Marin Community Foundation. I am deeply sad to see her go, but thrilled for Betsy, whose next chapter in California will expand her impact and reunite her with her family on the West Coast.

Betsy has the extraordinary ability to hold both vision and detail simultaneously. During her 18-year tenure at the RBF, she oversaw more than $650 million in grantmaking, including nearly $19 million to advance the practice of philanthropy. She also developed concrete strategies to deploy another $100 million in special initiatives—spanning the Egyptian Revolution, the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and more—keeping track of every dollar, every document, and every move along the way. Among her many accomplishments at the RBF are building the Central America pivotal place program and developing the RBF framework for impact assessment. In late 2020, when other foundations were focused on short-term funding surges for racial justice organizations, Betsy was developing a long-term strategy to embed justice and equity in all RBF grantmaking processes, grounded in the deep conviction that we will not achieve our goals if we cannot do so for all.

Betsy approached every facet of her work with wisdom, diplomacy, and warmth. In our travels together across the globe, from the hills of rural Colombia to the boardrooms of Europe, I have watched colleagues, peers, and newcomers alike gravitate toward Betsy for her insight, advice, or a well-timed laugh. She is generous with her expertise and her kindness, and both have rippled throughout the philanthropic sector.

As 2026 shapes up to be a year of momentous change, I am grateful to our team of dedicated staff, whose unwavering commitment to our mission carries forward the spirit and impact of our institution. Betsy leaves us stronger than she found us—and for that, we will always be grateful.