News

In an opinion piece published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, D5 Coalition co-chairs Stephen Heintz, president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Robert Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment, and Sterling Spiern, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, are calling on foundations to make changes in their operations and grantmaking by doing more to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Peacebuilding program guidelines are now available. Formerly known as Peace and Security, the Peacebuilding program is grounded in the theme of conflict transformation. The revised program aims to identify opportunities to support innovative and collaborative approaches to conflict prevention, management, and transformation; strengthen constituencies and political will for durable peace; and explore solutions to emerging transnational threats.

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.

Dwell, a magazine about modern architecture, profiled the Marcel Breuer House at Pocantico in their February issue. Curator Cynthia Altman and Staff Architect and Director of Operations Kimberly Miller discussed restoring the house to Marcel Breuer's original design, while making it habitable for artist residencies and other public programs.

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.

New York City's arts and cultural community is gearing up to welcome dozens of artists from Cuba and across the United States to partake in "¡Sí Cuba!" a three-month festival celebrating Cuban arts and culture that will encompass music, dance, cinema, literature, and the visual arts. The festival will run from March 31 to June 16 in venues across New York City.

Naomi Jackson, program officer for the New York City program, examines why only 21 percent of eligible voters, ages 18-29, turned out for the 2010 midterm elections, and offers ways to engage and empower young people in time for 2012.

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.