What is the mission of The Rockefeller Foundation?
The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission — unchanged since its founding in 1913 — is to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, that mission requires us to work with partners across sectors and political lines to find new solutions, build unlikely partnerships, and take a business-like approach to deliver results for people in the United States and around the world.
Where does The Rockefeller Foundation get its funding?
Between 1913 and 1929, the Rockefeller family endowed The Rockefeller Foundation with around $4 billion (in today’s dollars). Thanks to prudent management over the last century, we have been able to invest more than $26 billion in philanthropic capital to different organizations and initiatives in the United States and around the world. Today, the Foundation’s endowment, which is around $6 billion, is our institution’s main source of financial support.
Does The Rockefeller Foundation receive federal government funding?
No. The Foundation and its subsidiaries do not receive federal or state funding. Over the last 25 years, the only evidence we have of U.S. government funding was in 2020-21 when The Foundation helped expedite different states’ purchases of COVID testing — some of which leveraged federal funding — to get children back in schools and people back to work.
How does The Foundation manage its endowment?
The Foundation’s endowment is managed internally by an investment team whose sole goal is to ensure the Foundation has the assets it needs to deliver on its mission of supporting vulnerable people around the world. The Foundation works with experienced managers and invests in public and private markets in the United States and around the world.
What does The Rockefeller Foundation fund?
Since 1913, The Rockefeller Foundation has used grantmaking and other tools to deliver results for people, especially those often left behind, in the United States and around the world. Our current work aims to take new technology or ideas — or novel ways to apply existing ones — to help improve public health, create nutritious and sustainable food systems, connect people to enough electricity, and enable meaningful economic opportunity.
Does The Rockefeller Foundation accept proposals for grants?
No. The Rockefeller Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Our scientific approach to philanthropy is different — trying to solve problems at the root by with the latest innovations and ideas, by leveraging grants, contracts, and other tools, and by bringing together likely and unlikely partners.
Who is the President of The Rockefeller Foundation?
Dr. Rajiv J. Shah has served as the Foundation’s president since 2017. Raised outside of Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Shah is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the Wharton School of Business. Read more about Dr. Shah »
Who is on the board of The Rockefeller Foundation?
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees includes a range of experts and leaders, who have excelled in different careers but who are all united behind the Foundation’s mission. Trustee terms are typically 5 years long and can be extended once. Read about the members of our board »
Is The Rockefeller Foundation associated with other Rockefeller entities?
The Rockefeller Foundation is legally independent, with its own resources, board of trustees, and mission, which is unchanged since our founding. Though we share the Rockefeller name with many organizations, The Rockefeller Foundation operates entirely independently from these other entities.
Where are the Rockefeller Foundation offices?
The Rockefeller Foundation has teams in New York, Washington DC, Bangkok, Bogota, and Nairobi, and it has a convening center in Bellagio, Italy. See our locations »
How do you decide who you work with?
The Rockefeller Foundation believes good ideas and good partnerships can come from anyone, anywhere. Our fellowship program and convenings have hosted Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Henry Kissinger — and thousands in between. We also have a proud history of working across sectors, political parties, and borders in the United States and around the world to deliver results for people.