Selecting the right philanthropic advisor is critical to ensuring that a giving program fulfills the donor’s intents and motivations. A donor must look for both broad and deep expertise, a solid record of excellence and service and, perhaps most importantly, an organization with which the donor will be able to build a long-term relationship based on trust.
Donors will find the best mix of these qualities at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the independent nonprofit service created and governed by America’s most philanthropic family.
Exclusively Philanthropic
Our mission is to help donors create thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world. Philanthropy is our sole purpose and only service. Individuals, families, charitable trusts, foundations and donor collaboratives worldwide rely on us to develop, manage and monitor their philanthropy; from goals to grants, from research to results. Over the past decade we have advised on and managed more than $850 million in giving in more than 40 countries, covering every major issue area.
We have served the Rockefeller family for more than 120 years; through this service we have acquired unparalleled insights and wisdom; unique experience with a diversity of styles, goals and programs; and the ability to work seamlessly with and across several generations at once.
Our clients know their programs will be developed carefully and executed professionally. They can also count on our advisors’ integrity, thoughtfulness and personal service - and dedication to supporting each client’s philanthropic vision.
Deep Knowledge and Expertise
Our professionals provide clients with specialized and sophisticated resources usually only available within major foundations. These include managing complex initiatives in remote places, researching and creating novel philanthropy, and assessing impact.
Each senior advisor averages at least 10 years of domestic and international grantmaking experience. As experts in diverse philanthropic fields, including the environment, the arts, education, development and health, they also serve as authoritative speakers and leaders of professional organizations.
As a group, we bring to each client relationship decades of experience and success addressing family issues connected with philanthropy. These can include identifying values and heritage; developing consensus on priorities; engaging the next generation; creating well-functioning governance structures, and effectively engaging with nonprofits.
Comprehensive, Customized Services
We assist clients in and through every philanthropic issue and stage, from defining a vision and goals and creating criteria and programs, to making and monitoring grants - and achieving meaningful results.
Our approach is active, confidential, and completely customized. We work with clients not only on the why and what of their giving - their values and philanthropic issues - but also on the how - the style of their giving. Large capital pledges or many smaller gifts? Well-established entities or start-ups? Deep involvement or anonymous support?
Complete services are available for any philanthropic instrument, no matter where the assets are held. For foundations, these extend from planning to full-scale management. Our donor-advised-fund vehicle, The Philanthropic Collaborative, can be used for personal or family philanthropy, international grantmaking, donor collaboratives or to incubate nonprofit initiatives.
Global Reach and Resources
Clients seeking involvement in global philanthropy value our reach, resources and record of managing grant programs on six continents. We draw on a wealth of proprietary knowledge, professional expertise and contacts - including the worldwide Rockefeller network - to support funding options for donors.
We are committed to extending global giving. To that end, we produce papers and hold briefings on vital philanthropic issues; and partner with leading private foundations to deepen knowledge and support in important areas.
Achieving Momentum and Impact
Without sound execution, a philanthropy strategy is meaningless. The greatest value that we provide our clients is moving quickly from philanthropic aspirations to serious momentum; from ideas and options to effective implementation and impact.
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is geared to handle it all, from setting up a new foundation’s by-laws and administering meetings, to ensuring that grants are made professionally and handling required reporting. We can also shape a giving program through a donor-advised fund, producing the grants and agreements, and providing all the tracking.
In addition to these services, we also gauge the impact of clients’ philanthropy. In some cases, this means assessing results in terms of new jobs created or homes built, wildlife acres preserved or children educated. In others, it means ensuring the survival of a community’s crucial organizations, or effecting changes in local, national or international policy.
All of these elements distinguish us in the field, and are at the core of what we mean by creating thoughtful, effective philanthropy.
Nothing is more personal than our finances - how we earn, invest and donate our money are often reflections of who we are. For this reason, you most likely selected a financial advisor who understands and respects your goals, and acts accordingly.
The same should be true with your philanthropy. When the time comes that you are interested in exploring whether you need a philanthropic advisor, it is most important that you find an advisor who takes the time to listen, to talk with you about your motivations, interests and goals, and then works closely with you to turn them into a giving program.
Precisely this collaborative methodology and unparalleled experience are at the core of how we help donors create thoughtful, effective philanthropy.