News

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has released a report examining its Sustainable Development grantmaking from 2005–2010. The RBF first began grantmaking on climate change in 1984. The most recent phase of the RBF‘s work on climate change began in 2005, with the board‘s endorsement of the proposal to shift the bulk of the Fund‘s Sustainable Development resources toward combating climate change.

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.

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 Rockefeller Brothers Fund has a strong institutional commitment to philanthropic excellence. During 2010, the RBF commissioned the Center for Effective Philanthropy to conduct a series of surveys to gain insight into grantee and applicant perceptions of the Fund’s performance. We are pleased to share the Grantee Perception Report and Applicant Perception Report, along with our insights.

In early 2008, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund launched a foundation-wide project to assess and improve diversity within its operations and grantmaking.  A Diversity Working Group  consisting of staff members from across the Fund was created to explore diversity and inclusion at the RBF, with an initial goal of determining whether the Fund might embark on specific initiatives or strategies to strengthen its commitment.

The Promise of Pocantico is a comprehensive document aligning statements of mission, vision, and principles with the insightful program initiatives and responsible financial considerations, based upon the significant history and assets of Pocantico. The report presents the plan that was approved by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund's board of trustees in June 2008.

NativeEnergy has published a summary of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s carbon footprint from 2007–2009. Since partnering with NativeEnergy in 2005 to calculate and decrease its carbon footprint, the Fund has reduced more than 2,400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The RBF has released a paper detailing a Track II dialogue involving a core group of American and Iranian leaders, which was co-organized and co-facilitated with the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), under the leadership of Ambassador William Luers.

Advancing the Civic and Political Participation of Immigrant Communities presents the rationale for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to focus more attention on advancing the civic and political engagement of New York immigrant communities.

With the conclusion of the Charles E. Culpeper Human Advancement program, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund decided to conduct an assessment of its work in South Africa, which was largely housed under Human Advancement.