Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

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.”

This entry was posted on Monday, April 29th, 2002 at 2:13 pm.