Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Contact information:
475 Riverside Drive, Ste. 900
New York, NY 10115
Phone: 212-812-4200
Fax: 212-812-4299
Website: http://www.rbf.org
Type of foundation: Independent
Types of grants: Project; general operating; capacity-building grants are provided through the Culpeper Arts and Culture grants program.
Description: The Rockefeller Brothers Fund was founded in 1940 as a vehicle through which the five sons and daughter of John D. Rockefeller Jr., could share a source of advice and research on charitable activities and coordinate their philanthropic efforts to better effect. John D. Rockefeller Jr., made a substantial gift to the Fund in 1951 and in 1960 the Fund received a major bequest from his estate. Together, these constitute the original endowment of the Fund.
The Fund's grantmaking is organized around three themes:
- Democratic Practice: includes a commitment to ensuring that citizens are informed, engaged, empowered and assertive.
- Sustainable Development: specifically, environmental stewardship that is ecologically based, economically sound, socially just, culturally appropriate and consistent with intergenerational equity.
- Peace and Security: focused on the content and style of U.S. global engagement in the face of new perils and opportunities; and the strength and quality of relationships between Muslim and Western societies.
In addition, the Fund supports projects in three "pivotal places": New York City, Western Balkans and Southern China.
The Fund also handles the Charles E. Culpeper Arts and Culture grants program. This program awards grants only to organizations in the 5 boroughs of New York City. Applications for this program are accepted from January 1 – March 1 annually.
Sample grants:
- $200,000 over 2 years to America Abroad Media for Afghanistan and Iran initiatives (2009).
- $170,000 over 2 years to Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association (WETA) for By People: America in the World (2007).
- $130,000 to Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association (WETA) for the overseas reporting unit of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (2009).
- $75,000 to American Documentary for P.O.V. series (2009).
- $50,000 to WNYC Radio (New York) for new program, GreeneWorks (2008).
- $40,000 to Center for Investigative Reporting (Berkeley) in general support (2009).
- $25,000 to Link Media (San Francisco) for management development and capacity-building (2008).
Fit for public broadcasting: While the Fund does not make a high number of media grants, it has a solid history of support for public media. Projects must clearly emphasize the ways in which they fit with Fund interests.
Eligibility: The Fund gives nationally.
Deadline: Letters of inquiry are accepted at any time. Grants are awarded at three Board meetings (March, June, November).
How to apply: Submit online letter of inquiry (U.S. mail submissions are acceptable, but not preferred). Begin with the eligibility quiz.
Giving range: Average grant amount in 2008 was $86,056 over a 17-month period.
Assets: $663,781,425 (market value on 12/31/08)
Total giving: $33,226,279 (2008)
