Rockefeller Foundation
Contact information:
420 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10018-2702
Phone: 212-869-8500
Fax: 212-764-3468
Website: http://www.rockfound.org
Type of foundation: Independent
Types of grants: Project support, mainly for work that fits directly into specified Foundation initiatives.
Description: The Foundation was created in 1913 by John D. Rockefeller, a prominent industrialist who founded the Standard Oil Company. He was also the founder of The University of Chicago and Rockefeller University.
The Foundation focuses its resources on five related issue areas and funds a portfolio of initiatives that work across these areas to achieve meaningful and measurable impact. Each initiative is designed to accomplish specific goals within projected time frames, usually three to five years.
Key issue areas are:
- Basic survival safeguards.
- Global health.
- Climate and environment.
- Urbanization.
- Social and economic security.
Current initiatives are:
- Protecting American workers' economic security.
- Strengthening food security.
- Linking global disease surveillance networks.
- Transforming health systems.
- Helping build an impact investing industry.
- New York City Opportunities Fund.
- Developing climate change resilience.
- Rebuilding New Orleans.
- Promoting equitable, sustainable transportation policies.
- Advancing innovation to solve social problems.
Sample grants:
- $3,163,500 over two years to Rockhopper Productions (London) in support of the development, production and dissemination of an eight-part documentary series on climate change resilience and follow-up debate, to be aired on BBC World and potentially through other television, radio and internet venues (2008).
- $1,750,000 to Educational Broadcast Network (New York, NY) for Blueprint America, a multi-platform public broadcasting effort that will explore dimensions of and potential solutions to America's transportation infrastructure challenges and implications for climate change and equity (2009).
- $1,300,000 over two years to Public Radio International in support of its project, Reconsidering American Economic Security, through which it will offer sustained and in-depth coverage of, and thus raise awareness of, economic security issues facing working Americans today (2007).
- $600,000 to WNYC Radio toward the costs of producing expanded coverage on local and national transportation and infrastructure policy and practice, and developing partnerships with public radio stations in California, Montana, Washington D.C., Illinois and Minnesota to expand and deepen transportation-related programming in these markets (2009).
- $66,437 to Arkansas Educational Television Network Association to produce original programming on water resource issues in Arkansas (2007).
Fit for public broadcasting: Media projects must enhance public understanding about issues of importance to Rockefeller Foundation.
Eligibility: Giving on a national basis with emphasis on New York, as well as giving in Africa, North America, developing countries and Southeast Asia. No grants to individuals for personal aid or except in rare cases, for endowment funds or building or operating funds.
Deadline: None
How to apply: Initial approach is by online application. If the Foundation is interested in a full proposal, it will request one.
Giving range: Varies widely, from $25,000 – $3,000,000. Most grants are below $500,000.
Assets: $3,053,944,733
Total giving: $34,094,411
