News

An article about the uprising in Syria, commissioned by RBF grantee Meedan, has been published by Time Magazine. Since 2005, Meedan has been working to build tolerance and understanding between Web users in the United States and the Middle East by translating and sharing media and conversations on its Web site. The RBF has provided general support as well as funds to help Meedan increase its capacity in the Middle East.

RBF grantees Center for Climate Strategies and Global Environmental Institute have been selected as one of six teams to participate in the U.S. Department of State and Chinese National Development and Reform Commission's EcoPartnerships program. The EcoPartnerships program was established to facilitate collaboration among Chinese and U.S. governments and organizations working toward advancing solutions to environmental issues.

Youth Initiative for Human Rights has been cited throughout the U.S. Department of State's 2010 Human Rights Report on Montenegro. The report provides comprehensive details on human rights conditions in the country. The State Department credits the the growth of  nongovernmental organizations focused on democracy and human rights issues, like YIHR, as one factor for the increase in popular movements worldwide.

On Thursday, April 21, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented an updated agenda with new goals for PlaNYC, the city's landmark effort to ensure long-term sustainability and improve all aspects of the city's environment. New initiatives include plans to install solar power plants on capped landfills, offer loans to businesses to help pay for energy-efficient upgrades, and launch a program to help buildings switch to cleaner heating fuels.

Jessica Bailey, program officer for the Sustainable Development program, discusses why it makes sense for RBF grantees 1Sky and 350.org to merge, amidst a different and challenging political landscape for those working to strengthen the climate movement.

RBF grantee the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) has launched the beta version of its new investigative news site, iWatch News, with plans to unveil a new digital newspaper next month. All content for both iWatch News vehicles will be produced by CPI, which will continue to promote the transparency, accountability, and responsiveness of government institutions, with special attention to the importance of investigative journalism.

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.

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.