Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Season of charitable giving meant to be year-round
Houston Chronicle, 12/16/02

Monday, December 16th, 2002

Season of charitable giving meant to be year-round
The Houston Chronicle, 12/16/02

It’s crunch time for charities.

December wouldn’t be December if tax-exempt organizations didn’t use the last month of the year to raise funds for worthy causes and needy people.

But philanthropy is a tough sell right now.

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RPA Identifies Seven Afghan Women Leaders For Funding
12/11/02

Wednesday, December 11th, 2002

RPA Identifies Seven Afghan Women Leaders For Funding
Collaborative fund provides direct support to women-led non-profits

New York, NY, December 11, 2002 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced that it has identified seven courageous Afghan women leaders whose innovative nonprofits will receive grants from its Afghan Women Leaders Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund, a grant-making consortium recently launched by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, has been developed to strengthen the role of Afghan women in civil society by supporting women-led nonprofits that are delivering essential health care, education, training and development.

“While Afghan women have a growing role in civil society and are emerging determined to rebuild their country, they are doing so in the face of tremendous risks – particularly in the rural regions of the country,” said Melissa Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “Many of these leaders provided services under the Taliban, and refuse to back down now, even in light of such atrocities as recent attacks on girls’ schools,” she continued. “Resources from outside Afghanistan can help them work more effectively and safely, and will reinforce their morale and strength. We are enormously gratified that we are able to provide a vehicle for people to assist these courageous women, although thousands of miles separate us.”

Through the Fund, donors can channel aid immediately into Afghanistan through small grants dispersed to women-led Afghan nonprofit organizations. The groups selected by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors are working for change within Islamic tradition and Afghan culture, and can provide the most disadvantaged women and children in Afghanistan with access to health care, education, income generation and other services.

While other funds are also contributing assistance to major aid organizations or small local groups in Afghanistan, the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors directs grants solely to organizations run by Afghan women. Further, the Fund is highly collaborative in nature and its responsiveness to donor interests is also rare.

New York, NY, December 11, 2002 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced that it has identified seven courageous Afghan women leaders whose innovative nonprofits will receive grants from its Afghan Women Leaders Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund, a grant-making consortium recently launched by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, has been developed to strengthen the role of Afghan women in civil society by supporting women-led nonprofits that are delivering essential health care, education, training and development.

“While Afghan women have a growing role in civil society and are emerging determined to rebuild their country, they are doing so in the face of tremendous risks – particularly in the rural regions of the country,” said Melissa Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “Many of these leaders provided services under the Taliban, and refuse to back down now, even in light of such atrocities as recent attacks on girls’ schools,” she continued. “Resources from outside Afghanistan can help them work more effectively and safely, and will reinforce their morale and strength. We are enormously gratified that we are able to provide a vehicle for people to assist these courageous women, although thousands of miles separate us.”

Through the Fund, donors can channel aid immediately into Afghanistan through small grants dispersed to women-led Afghan nonprofit organizations. The groups selected by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors are working for change within Islamic tradition and Afghan culture, and can provide the most disadvantaged women and children in Afghanistan with access to health care, education, income generation and other services.

While other funds are also contributing assistance to major aid organizations or small local groups in Afghanistan, the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors directs grants solely to organizations run by Afghan women. Further, the Fund is highly collaborative in nature and its responsiveness to donor interests is also rare.

The organizations were selected based on numerous consultations with Afghan civil leaders and experts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the U.S. and elsewhere. Noted for having the most capable leaders and successful track records, many of these organizations have been providing services within Afghanistan over the past several years, at grave risk under Taliban rule and forced to operate in hiding or from exile.

Recipient organizations will include the Afghan Institute of Learning; Afghan Women’s Educational Center; Afghan Women’s Resource Center; Afghan Women Welfare Department; Refugee Women in Development (RefWID); Humanitarian Assistance for the Women and Children of Afghanistan; and Shuhada Organization. (Please see the attached for more information.)

Because of the sensitive environment in Afghanistan, the Fund will disperse small grants in installments, and will build the capacity of grantees to strengthen their impact, accountability and sustainability. Grantees will be monitored regularly and donors will receive semi-annual grant reports and an annual investment report.

“These Afghan women leaders have put their lives on the line – and continue to do so – to improve the situations of others in their communities,” said Ms. Berman. “We’re honored to act as a liaison between them and people looking to help them make life better in a very real and tangible way.”

The Fund is housed within Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ donor-advised charitable gift fund, The Philanthropic Collaborative.

Choosing Your Charity
CNNfn, 12/9/03

Monday, December 9th, 2002

Choosing Your Charity
CNNfn, 12/9/03

ALI VELSHI, CNNfn ANCHOR, YOUR MONEY: The holidays have long been known as the season for giving but this year it may be more the season for saving. With an uncertain economy, continuing corporate layoffs and a possible war on the horizon, philanthropists big and small are rethinking their charitable contributions and here with some advice on how to prioritize your donations this year is Melissa Berman. She’s of CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Melissa, thank you for being here.

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RPA Launches Funds to Support Afghan Women and the Caribbean
6/11/02

Tuesday, June 11th, 2002

RPA Launches Funds to Support Afghan Women and the Caribbean
New vehicles expand giving opportunities for donors

New York, NY, June 11, 2002 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced the creation of two special donor collaborative funds that will benefit Afghan women’s organizations and the Caribbean region. The funds mark the first time that the advisory service has made such giving vehicles available beyond a select group of clients. The Collaborative Fund for Afghan Women’s Organizations grew out of the interests of philanthropists who, in the wake of September 11th, turned to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to help them provide immediate, direct support to women caught in the extraordinary and historic circumstances of a re-emerging Afghan society, according to Melissa A. Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

A primary goal of The Collaborative Fund for the Caribbean will be to attract new donor interest and investment in the region, which is now severely under-funded, according to recent statistics from the Foundation Center. The Caribbean fund will directly support local organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children and families, helping to create sustainable livelihoods and enhancing the environment, Ms. Berman said. “We are deeply honored that our donors have entrusted us to develop, expand and maintain important initiatives to aid the populations of two regions – Afghanistan and the Caribbean – where philanthropic investment can have a significant and measurable impact,” Ms. Berman added.

The launch of the two new funds is part of an overall strategy by the advisory service to promote effective philanthropic giving. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors was recently separated from Rockefeller Financial Services to create an independent nonprofit that allows a wide range of people to leverage the capabilities and extensive network built by the Rockefeller family over six successive generations. “Our family has always been acutely aware of the importance of both collaborative and international philanthropy, both of which have become even more important in the wake of the events of September 11,” said Eileen Rockefeller Growald, Chair of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “These two new funds are precisely the kinds of innovative initiatives we wanted to bring into being by creating Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors,” she continued.

Assisting Most Vulnerable Afghans and Emerging Leaders

“Women in Afghanistan need the support of the international community as they rise out of isolation to rebuild their country in a turbulent atmosphere that mixes hope and optimism with fundamentalism, militarism and a lack of security,” said Ms. Berman.

Extensive research conducted by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors included discussions with numerous Afghan women as well as academic, governmental, non-profit and philanthropic leaders from Afghanistan, Canada, Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States and the United Nations. As a result of this research, the Fund will support effective health, education and service organizations run by Afghan women leaders and will, in its second phase of grantmaking, assist a handful of international organizations that strengthen these leaders’ capacity.

“In this dynamic environment, philanthropy can provide innovative, flexible, immediate and direct support to an emerging civil society, and enhance the role of women in its successful development,” continued Ms. Berman.

Local Empowerment and Environmental Sustainability in the Caribbean

“Strategic philanthropic investment in the Caribbean has the potential to vastly improve the lives of the most marginalized residents and to help preserve some of the world’s most stunning and significant natural environments,” said Ms. Berman. “Although it is a popular tourist destination, the Caribbean has not attracted a large amount of philanthropy from outside the region nor is there a strong tradition of indigenous philanthropy,” she added.

Building on Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ current donors’ deep experience in global philanthropy, including $14 million in grantmaking over the past five years in Trinidad and Tobago, The Collaborative Fund for the Caribbean will have four priorities: children and youth at risk; improved livelihoods; environmental sustainability; and local empowerment. The Fund will focus on impact while striving for equitable and balanced resource allocation across the region as local capacity grows.

“These two funds are an excellent example of the flexibility and creativity that is built into Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors – and of our ability to manage effective giving on a global basis,” said Ms. Berman.

Both funds will be housed at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors within its special-purpose donor-advised charitable gift fund, The Philanthropic Collaborative.

RPA Expands Senior Staff of Experts
5/29/02

Wednesday, May 29th, 2002

RPA Expands Senior Staff of Experts
Four new advisors bring additional knowledge and networks to independent nonprofit service

New York, NY – May 29, 2002 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has expanded its team of experts with the appointment of four internationally recognized, senior philanthropy advisors, each of whom brings to the firm in-depth experience working with an array of major foundations, giving programs, nonprofit boards and social investment funds, according to Melissa A. Berman, president and CEO.

Joining Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors as Philanthropic Advisors are Doug Bauer, formerly President of the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, and A. Richardson Love, Jr., formerly Director of Education Programs at the Knight Foundation. Named Senior Advisors are Judy Belk, formerly Vice President of Global Public Affairs for Levi Strauss & Co., and Bill Dietel, who will also remain in his current capacity as President of the Pierson-Lovelace Foundation and of the Brain Mapping Medical Research Organization.

“We are thrilled to welcome to our team these exceptional professionals, all of whom have made great contributions in the philanthropic arena and share our vision of expanding thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world,” said Ms. Berman. “We look forward to a lively exchange of ideas as we share our knowledge to develop and manage individualized giving programs for each of our clients.”

The four new experts join a team of advisors with extensive experience in a broad cross section of global philanthropic issues who offer specialized and sophisticated expertise usually available only within major foundations. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Expands Senior Staff of Experts Four new advisors bring additional knowledge and networks to independent nonprofit service.

New York, NY – May 29, 2002 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has expanded its team of experts with the appointment of four internationally recognized, senior philanthropy advisors, each of whom brings to the firm in-depth experience working with an array of major foundations, giving programs, nonprofit boards and social investment funds, according to Melissa A. Berman, president and CEO.

Joining Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors as Philanthropic Advisors are Doug Bauer, formerly President of the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, and A. Richardson Love, Jr., formerly Director of Education Programs at the Knight Foundation. Named Senior Advisors are Judy Belk, formerly Vice President of Global Public Affairs for Levi Strauss & Co., and Bill Dietel, who will also remain in his current capacity as President of the Pierson-Lovelace Foundation and of the Brain Mapping Medical Research Organization.

“We are thrilled to welcome to our team these exceptional professionals, all of whom have made great contributions in the philanthropic arena and share our vision of expanding thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world,” said Ms. Berman. “We look forward to a lively exchange of ideas as we share our knowledge to develop and manage individualized giving programs for each of our clients.”

The four new experts join a team of advisors with extensive experience in a broad cross section of global philanthropic issues who offer specialized and sophisticated expertise usually available only within major foundations.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an independent, nonprofit service that develops and manages giving programs for individuals, families, foundations and trusts. The successor to the philanthropy office of Rockefeller Financial Services, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors currently serves approximately 100 clients, advising on and managing more than $50 million in annual giving in more than 40 countries. It was separated from the financial services business in 2002 in order to create a public purpose nonprofit that allows a wide range of people to leverage the capabilities and extensive network built by the Rockefeller family over the course of six successive generations.

New Members Add Even Greater Breadth and Depth Prior to joining Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Doug Bauer was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs and President of the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, the firm’s donor-advised fund. Mr. Bauer was formerly Director of Community Partnership at SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) and Executive Director of the SmithKline Beecham Foundation, where he focused on community-based healthcare in both the developed and developing world. Previously, Mr. Bauer was a Program Officer for Culture at the Pew Charitable Trusts where he created and managed two results-oriented, multi-year operating support programs for arts organizations. Mr. Bauer serves on boards or committees for the Council on Foundations, The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and the Communications Network in Philanthropy. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches a course and seminars on philanthropy.

Rick Love also joins as a Philanthropic Advisor. Previously, he was a Vice President with Goldman Sachs, where he developed grant strategies to improve access to higher education for disadvantaged students internationally. Earlier at Knight Foundation as Director of Education Programs, he developed its support for education at all levels both nationally and in 26 local communities. Prior to that, he was Vice President of the Consortium for the Advancement of Private Education, a collaborative funder of small private colleges, and served as Assistant to the President at Davidson College.

As a senior advisor, Judy Belk brings to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors more than twenty years of leadership experience in strategic philanthropy, community relations, corporate citizenship and non-profit management. Most recently, as Vice President of Global Public Affairs for Levi Strauss & Co., Ms. Belk was instrumental in shaping the company’s global community involvement and philanthropic strategy, particularly through her work directing the activities of the Levi Strauss Foundation. Based in California, Ms. Belk has served as a senior advisor and consultant to numerous organizations, including the James Irvine Foundation, The California Endowment, Target Corporation and the Women’s Funding Network. Ms Belk is a member of the corporate Board of Trustees for Citizens Fund, a family of socially responsible mutual funds with assets over $1 billion.

Bill Dietel, who also joins Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors as a senior advisor, has had extensive experience as a board member and officer of a broad array of nonprofit organizations, including the American Farmland Trust, the New York Public Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development. Mr. Dietel has served as Chairman of the National Center for Nonprofit Boards (now BoardSource); was President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund; and is currently President of the Pierson-Lovelace Foundation and the Brain Mapping Medical Research Organization, both of which are located in Los Angeles. He also currently serves as a trustee for the Winthrop Rockefeller Trust, the Child Care and Learning Center, and Guidestar, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Institute for Philanthropy in London. Mr. Dietel is the co-author, with Linda R. Dietel, of The Board Chair Handbook (BoardSource, 2001).

“This is an exciting time for those of us involved in philanthropic activities,” said Ms. Berman. “We are privileged to be in a position to connect thoughtful, generous donors with the world’s worthiest causes. We eagerly anticipate the effect that Doug, Rick, Judy and Bill’s involvement will have on how we help clients achieve their philanthropic goals.”

Rockefellers Launch Independent Nonprofit Service to Manage Giving Globally by Individuals and Families
4/29/02

Monday, April 29th, 2002

Rockefellers Launch Independent Nonprofit Service to Manage Giving Globally by Individuals and Families
Melissa Berman to Lead Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Chicago, IL, April 29, 2002 – In a move aimed at supporting the growth of philanthropy and sharing philanthropic experience gained over more than a century, the Rockefeller family has announced the creation of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, an independent, nonprofit service to develop and manage giving programs for individuals and families. The announcement was made here today at the annual conference of the Council of Foundations.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is the successor to the philanthropy office of Rockefeller Financial Services. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors currently serves approximately 100 clients, roughly half of whom are members of the Rockefeller family, advising on and managing more than $50 million in annual giving in more than 40 countries.

“Our family has more than 100 years of experience and expertise in effective giving over six successive generations, and we wanted to share what we’ve learned with the growing ranks of families seeking to make an impact – locally, nationally or globally – through philanthropy,” said Eileen Rockefeller Growald, chairperson of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “We have decided to separate this valuable resource from the financial services business in order to allow a wide range of people to leverage both the capabilities and extensive network our family has built.”

Melissa A. Berman, who joined the Rockefeller organization last year to develop the strategic plan to launch the new philanthropic entity, will serve as president and chief executive officer of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. She came to the Rockefeller organization after 15 years with The Conference Board, a nonprofit, independent business research and meeting organization. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ creation comes at a time when philanthropy is seeing its biggest growth in 50 years, despite an uncertain economy and market volatility. According to the Foundation Center, total giving from independent foundations alone rose 5% in 2001, to an estimated $29 billion. At the same time, the number of new foundations has increased by 10% per year since the late 1990s.

“Philanthropy will be our sole focus and our only service,” said Ms. Berman. “Without sound execution, a giving strategy is meaningless. We work with donors to get from goals to grants, and we’ll also gauge the impact of their programs, whether it means jobs created, acres protected or children educated. Our historical association with the Rockefellers’ innovative, multi-generational philanthropic heritage provides unique insights that help us tailor giving programs to the individual interests and concerns of new clients,” she continued.

According to Ms. Berman, with the recent growth in donors and foundations has come an even greater focus on careful, purposeful giving. “Especially heartening is a trend toward gifts targeted to international beneficiaries,” she said. “Traditionally, only about one percent of the grants we advised on went to organizations outside the U.S. However, in the past few years, we have seen that figure grow to roughly nine percent; and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ wide network of global organizations uniquely positions us to handle international gifts.”

Seasoned Team Handles All Giving Issues

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ team of professionals has extensive experience in a broad cross section of global philanthropic issues, including the environment, education, healthcare, community development and the arts, and they offer specialized and sophisticated expertise usually available only within major foundations. This group will customize and advise on giving programs with any manner of parameters – from establishing a school in a rural area overseas to endowing an academic chair at an elite university, using large capital pledges or small gifts, for clients who desire deep involvement or anonymity.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors will also include The Philanthropic Collaborative, a special donor-advised fund vehicle that will be managed solely as a service to clients. Finally, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors can act as a “seamless extension” of donors in connection with any philanthropic vehicles (regardless of where the assets are held), including defining vision and goals, establishing sound governance, creating grantmaking criteria, making site visits, assessing results, and handling day-to-day management functions.

Headquartered in New York City, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors traces its antecedents to John D. Rockefeller, Sr., who in 1891 began to professionally manage philanthropy “as if it were a business.” He set the style of family giving by specifying that grants would be used “for the well-being of people throughout the world.”

David Rockefeller, retired CEO of The Chase Manhattan Bank, said, “Since my grandfather began making charitable gifts in the 1890s, enlightened philanthropy has been an important part of our family’s heritage. My grandfather – and my father as well – shared a compelling belief in community and the importance of joining together with neighbors to accomplish society’s goals. That philosophy is the cornerstone of this creative new effort Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is undertaking.”

Added Ms. Berman, “We are excited by the infinite potential for our clients and other philanthropists to make a real difference – whether they want to change the world as a whole, or the world in their communities.”