Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

“Payola” Settlement Leads to Music Funding Opportunities

Friday, January 20th, 2006

$15 million earmarked for music education and appreciation programs in New York State; Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors accepting grant applications for The New York State Music Fund

New York, January 20, 2006– Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today launched a new grant program by releasing a Request for Applications for the New York State Music Fund (“Music Fund”). This program is funded by settlements reached by the Office of the New York State Attorney General and will make contemporary music of all genres more accessible to diverse audiences and communities within New York State. Grants from the Music Fund, which currently holds $15 million, will be disbursed to nonprofit organizations associated with music education and appreciation efforts.

The Music Fund was created when the New York State Attorney General’s Office resolved investigations against major record companies that had violated state and federal laws prohibiting “pay for play” (also called “payola”). The settlement agreement stipulated that funds paid by music businesses would support music education and appreciation for the benefit of New York State residents. The Attorney General’s Office enlisted the services of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to develop and manage the grant program. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a nonprofit organization, is one of the nation’s largest and most experienced philanthropy services and has developed or facilitated more than $850 million in giving over the past decade.

“This is a creative vehicle through which grants to well-established nonprofits will enable people from all across New York State, from all walks of life, to experience the joy of music,” said Melissa Berman, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “We’re excited about our role in helping people of all ages discover emerging artists, sample music genres new to them or perhaps learn to play an instrument.”

Grant applications from nonprofit organizations are due by March 31st; awards and a second round of requests for applications will be announced in June, 2006. For the purposes of the Music Fund, “contemporary music” encompasses written composition and performance of all genres, including classical, jazz, music from around the world that is based in living classical or folk traditions, experimental music, and noncommercial forms of popular music including alternative rock, country, hip hop, and others. Proposed programs can include a range of activities from any or all of the following categories:

• Creation of diverse new works of music by emerging or established composers, musicians, ensembles, or bands;
• Live Performance of diverse forms of music being created by today’s emerging to established composers, musicians, ensembles, or bands;
• Media – recording/distribution/broadcast through traditional or new media of diverse works created by today’s composers and musicians (Particular emphasis will be placed on use of noncommercial media vehicles); and
• Music Education – School and community-based music activities and programs provided by cultural organizations that promote skill-building in, and understanding and appreciation of, music of our time.

Special emphasis of the Music Fund will be on reaching underserved populations – those whose opportunities to experience a variety of music have been limited by socioeconomic status, ethnicity, geography or disability – and broadening awareness of underrepresented music – artists, genres or styles with limited access to commercial broadcast or other mass distribution vehicles.

Funded activities must take place in New York State and benefit New York State residents. Generally, funded projects are to be completed within a one-year period, but a limited number of twoyear grants will be awarded. Further, the Music Fund will also consider from nonprofit organizations a limited number of special initiative proposals that address the music field’s ability to monitor and maintain an open and fair marketplace for the production and distribution of music in New York State. Grant proposals will be evaluated by an Advisory Review Panel knowledgeable about the range of music proposed and communities throughout New York State.

Full details of the grant program are available at www.rockpa.org/music.

American Red Cross to Distribute $50 Million in Grants
6/30/04

Wednesday, June 30th, 2004

American Red Cross to Distribute $50 Million in Grants to Programs Nationwide Supporting On-Going September 11 Recovery

The Mount Sinai Medical Center is Among Early Grantees; Receives $1.5 Million to Expand Treatment for People with 9/11 Health Needs

NEW YORK, June 30, 2004 – The American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Program today announced that it has allocated $50 million from the Liberty Disaster Relief Fund to a nationwide grant-making program to support the longer-term recovery needs of thousands of people directly impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.

Over the next two years, American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Grants will fund programs large and small which offer services in communities throughout the United States. Grants will be issued to organizations addressing a wide variety of recovery needs including: health; mental health and wellness; community-based recovery; children and youth; ensuring access to September 11 services; and more. The first formal request-for -proposals will be issued as early as July 2004 with funding awards anticipated in the fall of 2004.

“As people continue taking the difficult steps toward recovery, the Red Cross wants to ensure there are viable community-based programs that will assist them,” said Alan Goodman, Executive Director of the Red Cross September 11 Recovery Program. “Funding programs that provide services to people with September 11-related needs maximizes the effective use of Red Cross’ resources and extends our reach—we’re able to make sure help is there for those who need support today and down the road.”

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to Guide Program

The Red Cross has engaged Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to guide the structure and development of the grant-making program. The nonprofit organization is one of the nation’s largest and most experienced philanthropy services, and has developed or facilitated more than $850 million in giving over the past decade. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors will also administer the grant application and monitoring processes. The Red Cross will make all final award decisions.

“We’re deeply honored to be part of this important Red Cross effort to help individuals and communities recover from the most devastating event in our home city and our nation’s recent history,” said Melissa A. Berman, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “This is a unique opportunity to apply our knowledge, experience and commitment to thoughtful, effective philanthropy. The Red Cross Recovery Grants will support the extraordinary community organizations that address the complex challenges of long-term recovery from the wide-ranging impacts of September 11.”

The initial request-for-proposal (RFP) is expected to be issued in July. Organizations interested in applying for funds should visit www.redcross.org/september11/help for details, updates on upcoming request-for-proposals, and instructions on applying.

AMERICAN RED CROSS

“As good stewards of the donated dollar, the Red Cross is applying the best possible expertise to meet client needs. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors provides just that, and we’re counting on them to help us with the most effective distribution of the grants to meet the unmet needs of people affected by the September 11 attacks,” said Goodman.

Mount Sinai Medical Center Receives $1.5 Million

An example of the type of funding the Red Cross will provide to community-based organizations is a grant award of $1.5 million to the World Trade Center Health Effects Treatment Program at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. The program provides comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, and advocacy services for those who have WTCrelated health problems, as part of an integrated system of care for workers and volunteers who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts, debris removal and sifting, and/or the restoration of services at the World Trade Center site following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

“We are extremely grateful to the American Red Cross for this generous grant that will enable Mount Sinai to continue treating responders who suffer from WTC-related health conditions with no out of pocket expense,” said Robin Herbert, MD, Associate Professor of Community and Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and co-director of the World Trade Center Health Effects Treatment Program. “Thousands of Ground Zero workers are still suffering from serious medical problems, and many of them face life-long illnesses.”

The Mount Sinai World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program has screened more than 8,600 Ground Zero workers and found that many of them have respiratory, sinus and/or mental health symptoms that have persisted for more than a year. Forty percent of WTC responders seen in Mount Sinai’s WTC Treatment Program lack health insurance and one-third are now unemployed.

“The Red Cross is honored to support Mount Sinai’s World Trade Center Health Effects Treatment Program,” said Goodman. “The grant will finance the Program’s addition of a third treatment facility, making its services more accessible, and also enable it to meet health-related needs of these heroic individuals into the future.”

The Treatment Program is coordinated by the Mount Sinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, an internationally respected diagnostic, treatment, and referral center for occupationally related illnesses. Among those eligible for or currently receiving free treatment are workers and volunteers involved in the rescue and recovery, restoration of essential services and clean up/debris removal at either the World Trade Center site or the Staten Island landfill. Information about the Mount Sinai Health Effects Treatment Program is available at: (212) 241-9059.

“Mount Sinai’s Treatment Program exemplifies the type of effort we are seeking to fund through our Recovery Grants program—easy to access, tailored to the unique needs of those individuals directly impacted by the attacks and crucial to their recovery,” said Goodman.

Other organizations and programs awarded funding by the Red Cross illustrate the wide variety of services they are seeking to support.

• Trial Lawyers Care received $1,215,085 to connect families to pro bono legal assistance for applying to the Victims Compensation Fund.
• National Center for Victims of Crime received $203,470 to support its Critical Choices Initiative, which helped those impacted by 9/11 understand the implications of applying to the Federal Victims’ Compensation Fund, and trained attorneys and service providers to understand and help meet families’ legal needs.

From a $78,900 request for financial planning support to today’s $1.5 million award for long-term health issues, the programs are diverse but they have one thing in common—helping people move forward in their recovery.

AMERICAN RED CROSS

About The American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Program:

The American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Program provides assistance, support and guidance to those most directly affected by the September 11 attacks. Current services include case management, financial assistance for mental health and health care, subsidies to cover health insurance costs, support and information groups and other financial assistance. The Red Cross also provides community-based organizations with funding to enhance long-term, local services for people affected by 9-11. For information on services, call (877) 746-4987 [TDD (800) 63-1220] or visit www.redcross.org/september11/help.

About The Mount Sinai Medical Center

The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The Mount Sinai Hospital is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. Founded in 1852, Mount Sinai today is a 1,171-bed tertiary-care teaching facility that is internationally-acclaimed for excellence in clinical care. Last year, nearly 48,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients, more than 72,000 received care in the emergency department, and the outpatient department recorded nearly 470,000 visits. Mount Sinai School of Medicine is internationally-recognized as a leader in ground-breaking clinical and basicscience research, as well as innovative approaches to medical education. Mount Sinai ranks 9th among the nation’s 125 medical schools in the percentage of graduates who go on to faculty positions in medical schools across the country. Mount Sinai also is in the top 25 in receipt of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants with a total of more than $154 million during Fiscal Year 2003. Information about Mount Sinai can be found online at: www.mountsinai.org and www.mssm.edu

RPA Names CFO and Adds to Advisory Team
6/22/04

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2004

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Names CFO and Adds to Advisory Team

Significant expansion reflects increased interest in effective giving

New York, NY, June 22 2004 — Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced that it had named Daniel Stubbs as Chief Financial Officer, Jessica Chao as Senior Philanthropy Advisor and Walter Sweet as Philanthropy Advisor. The move significantly expands the organization and will enable it to broaden its activities at a time when there is increased interest in global and missiondriven giving among donors.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an independent, nonprofit service that develops and manages giving programs for individuals, families, foundations and trusts. Over the past decade, it has advised on and managed more than $850 million in giving in more than 40 countries.

“Dan, Jessica and Walter each bring exceptional experience that will enhance many areas of our organization, continue our commitment to thoughtful, effective giving, expand our reach into emerging donor communities, and serve the philanthropic needs of our growing client base,” said Melissa A. Berman, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “The skills and talents each has acquired in their outstanding professional careers complement the broad and deep expertise of our current team.”

Dan Stubbs joins Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors after a long career in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, as Director of External Reporting in Prudential Financial’s Controllers Department, Mr. Stubbs reported on over $14 billion in assets. During his years at Prudential, he also served as Director in the Policyowner Relations Division, and helped re-engineer the financial processes that served as the foundation for the successful Prudential Financial, Inc. IPO in December 2001.

Prior to joining Prudential, Mr. Stubbs served in a Board of Regents appointment as the Executive Secretary (Director) of the New York State Board for Public Accountancy, formulating laws, rules and regulations governing the practice of public accounting in New York State. He held senior positions at Bellcore, including Chief Financial Officer of its Network Systems division and Controller of its corporate computing facilities. As Corporate Controller of the New York State Urban Development Corporation, Mr. Stubbs managed financial activities associated with major development projects including the Javits Convention Center and the Syracuse University Carrier Dome Stadium.

Mr. Stubbs serves on the board for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and chairs the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession program Advisory Board, a one-week program held each summer to expose tri-state area, inner city students to careers in finance. He is a member of the adjunct faculties of Long Island University and Rutgers University, and is Treasurer of the Prince Hall Urban Renewal Corporation, which is dedicated to providing affordable housing to low-income and senior citizens in Newark, New Jersey. Also active in the American Institute of CPAs, New Jersey Society of CPAs and the National Association of Black Accountants, Mr. Stubbs holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Pace University.

Jessica Chao, a noted expert in foundation and program management and grantmaking, brings considerable experience from her work as an independent consultant to nonprofits, foundations and philanthropies nationwide; as a senior executive of several of the nation’s leading nonprofits; and through her work with donors in the Asian, Latino and African-American communities.

Most recently, she launched the Coalition for New Philanthropy, an initiative to strengthen philanthropy in communities of color, including African-American, Asian American and Hispanic American. She was formerly the vice president of the Wallace-Reader’s Digest Funds, where she designed and developed one of the largest private sector arts and cultural programs in the country, which received the President’s Medal of Arts. She has been a member of the Advisory Committees of the National Center for Family Philanthropy; the Ford Foundation’s Social Justice Initiative; and the Smithsonian Asian American Initiative. Her board memberships have included the New York Area Regional Grantmakers; Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy and the Ridgewood Arts Council. Ms. Chao frequently writes and addresses conference and seminar audiences on numerous philanthropy-related topics, notably on the traditions and preferences of the emerging multi-cultural donor. She has advised many leading foundations, including the Ford, Kellogg Packard, Rockefeller, Hasbro, Twenty-First Century, Asia and Gill Foundations. Earlier in her career, she was a company and faculty member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. She holds a B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University.

Walter Sweet has been a program officer at the New York Community Trust, the nation’s largest community foundation. In his capacity as Budget and Special Projects Officer for The New York Community Trust, Mr. Sweet developed a $30 million annual discretionary grants budget; conducted special project grantmaking; recommended fund sources for grants; and monitored and evaluated programmatic activities. Further, he served as the emergency grants program officer for the September 11th Fund, a joint fund of The New York Community Trust and The United Way of New York City. Most recently, as Vice President of the family-owned Sweet Analysis Services, he managed contractual agreements for international joint ventures and new business development, including with the U. S. Federal government and military operations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in American History from Columbia University.

About Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an independent, nonprofit service that develops and manages effective giving programs. Headquartered in New York City, it 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.” In the past decade, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has advised on and managed more than $850 million in annual giving in more than 40countries. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors also includes The Philanthropic Collaborative, a donor-advised fund for international giving and special projects.

RPA Names Four New Board Members

Monday, February 9th, 2004

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Names Four New Board Members

Group brings nationally recognized expertise in the arts, education and community relations

NEW YORK, February 9, 2004 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc. today announced the election of four prominent nonprofit leaders and policymakers to its Board of Directors. The group further enhances the depth of the board’s experience in the arts, education and community relations. The announcement was made in New York City at the largest meeting of family and private foundations, the Council on Foundations’ Family Foundations Conference. Named to the Board of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors were:

• Steven A. Minter, past President, Cleveland Foundation and Executive-in-Residence, Cleveland State University;
• Abby M. O’Neill, past Chair, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Rockefeller Financial Services;
  Marnie S. Pillsbury, Executive Director of The David Rockefeller Fund; and
• Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and Chief Executive Officer, WETA

“These knowledgeable and talented individuals are joining us at a dynamic time in both our organization’s growth and in philanthropy in general,” said Eileen Rockefeller Growald, Chair of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “Having access to their considerable wisdom will help us to bring critical insights to donors looking to achieve lasting impact on the most challenging issues of our time.”

Steven A. Minter has earned a national reputation for his ability to forge collaborative relationships among community entities, both on the national level and most notably, in Cleveland, Ohio. He currently serves as Executive in Residence at Cleveland State University, a post he assumed after his retirement as President and Executive Director of the Cleveland Foundation, the nation’s oldest and second-largest community foundation. During his 28-year tenure at the Foundation, Mr. Minter was deeply involved in Cleveland’s revitalization and in building a strong and vibrant local community.

Mr. Minter has also served on the boards of Community Foundations of America, the American Public Welfare Association; the Council on Foundations; The Foundation Center; Child Welfare League of America; and the National Community AIDS Partnership. He currently serves on the corporate boards of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and KeyCorp.

The eldest grandchild of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Abby M. O’Neill has held numerous leadership positions in the arts, education and financial services. She has led the boards of Rockefeller Financial Services, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Greenacre Foundation and Bradford College. She has also served as Vice Chair of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and as Trustee of the Asian Cultural Council. Ms. O’Neill currently serves as an Honorary Trustee of the Parent-Child Home Program of Nassau County; a Trustee of the Community Foundation of Oyster Bay; and the Youth & Family Counseling Agency of Oyster Bay.

Education and arts issues have been at the core of Marnie S. Pillsbury’s many philanthropy-related positions, which include her current roles as Executive Director of the David Rockefeller Fund, Trustee of the Stuart Family Foundation, and philanthropic advisor to David Rockefeller. Ms. Pillsbury is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; the President’s Council for the International Women’s Health Coalition; the International Council for the Museum of Modern Art; and the Advisory Committee for the David Rockefeller Fellows Program at the New York City Partnership. She serves as a Trustee or Board member of Rockefeller University; World Learning Inc., and the Women’s Campaign Fund. A graduate of Wellesley College, Ms. Pillsbury also holds an M.B.A. from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Sharon Percy Rockefeller has been president and CEO of WETA – Washington, D.C.’s flagship public television and radio stations – since 1989. Prior to assuming the CEO position, Ms. Rockefeller served on WETA’s Board of Trustees for seven years, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for 12 years, including four years as Chair. She has also held board positions at Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and the Smithsonian American Art Commission. Ms. Rockefeller currently serves on the Boards of PepsiCo, Sotheby’s and the Museum of Modern Art, and is a member of the Trustees Council of the National Gallery of Art and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is a Trustee of both The Phillips Collection and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. A graduate of Stanford University, Ms. Rockefeller is active in the fields of education, fine arts, government and women’s issues, and received the Charles Frankel Prize from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1994.

About Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an independent, nonprofit service that develops and manages effective giving programs. Headquartered in New York City, it 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.” In the past decade, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has advised on and managed more than $850 million in annual giving to more than 40 countries. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors also includes The Philanthropic Collaborative, a donor-advised fund for international giving and special projects.

RPA Names Two New Board Members
9/5/03

Friday, September 5th, 2003

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Names Two New Board Members

Educator and foundation leader bring global and hands-on experience to solving pressing education issues

NEW YORK, September 5, 2003 — Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced that it has elected Valerie Rockefeller Carnegie and Rien van Gendt, an educator and internationally known foundation leader, respectively, to its Board of Directors.

Ms. Carnegie’s experience includes teaching middle school students – primarily those with learning and emotional disabilities – in both Australia and the United States, including the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. She has also served as an assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Education in Washington, DC during the Clinton administration. Dr. van Gendt is executive director of the Van Leer Group Foundation in Amstelveen, The Netherlands. A well-known expert on international philanthropy, he is also a lecturer and author of several books and articles.

Ms. Carnegie and Dr. van Gendt bring to their new positions many years of experience in education, global philanthropy, educational policy, and in directly addressing the obstacles facing “at risk” children worldwide. The appointments underscore Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ commitment to maintaining a global perspective as it extends the philanthropic knowledge, capabilities and network built by the Rockefeller family over the course of five successive generations.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an independent, nonprofit service that develops and manages giving programs for individuals, families, foundations and trusts. The organization serves approximately 100 clients, and over the past decade has advised on and managed more than $850 million in giving to over 40 countries. The Rockefeller Philanthropy staff has extensive experience in a broad range of global philanthropic issues, and offers specialized and sophisticated guidance usually available only at major foundations.

“The appointment of Valerie and Rien to our Board is an important step toward supporting donors’ growing interest in the crossroads of family and international philanthropy,” said Melissa A. Berman, president and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “Their complementary backgrounds give them unparalleled insights into issues, including the needs of children, and their perspectives will prove invaluable to shaping how we help donors identify and assist beneficiaries as part of effective giving programs.”

As a special education teacher in Australia, Ms. Carnegie taught children considered by their regular public schools to be at risk of failure. She also designed a curriculum for Harlem’s Central Park East Secondary School, and managed a Resource Room for junior high students with learning disabilities. She is currently involved in the charter school movement. In her Department of Education post, Ms. Carnegie worked closely with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Education to coordinate a federal initiative on teachers’ professional development, and represented the Department at political events and policy conferences. Ms. Carnegie holds Masters’ degrees in Special Education from the Bank Street College of Education, and in Secondary Social Studies from Columbia University Teachers College; she earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Stanford University. Ms. Carnegie is a Trustee of Spelman College, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Asian Cultural Council; she also held a post on the Management Advisory Board of Oasis Homeless Youth Shelter and was a Mentor for Social Ventures Australia.

Prior to his current position, Dr. van Gendt was for many years the Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, which falls under the aegis of the Van Leer Group Foundation, a leader in global philanthropy. In that post, Dr. van Gendt played a key role in sustaining and extending the mission of the Foundation, which concentrates its resources on promoting the optimum development of disadvantaged children up to the age of eight – the period when interventions yield lasting benefits to children and society. He has been recognized internationally for his work in addressing global social issues, and has held leadership positions throughout his career, including Chairman of the Parliamentary Forum of Amnesty International; a consultant to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Unesco, the International Institute for Educational Planning and the European Commission; Chairman of the International Committee of the U.S. Council on Foundations; Editor of the magazine The European Community; and is a well respected lecturer on Economics.

Dr. van Gendt currently serves on the Board of the European Foundation Center and chairs its International Committee; several boards related to real estate investment; and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Jewish Humanitarian Fund, among others. He received Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Economics from the University of Amsterdam, and holds honorary doctorate degrees from the University del Norte in Colombia and Newcastle University in Australia.

Noted Foundation Expert Joins RPA
4/28/03

Monday, April 28th, 2003

Noted Foundation Expert Joins Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

John A. Edie, formerly of Council on Foundations, named Senior Fellow

NEW YORK, NY – April 28, 2003 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced the appointment of noted attorney and foundation specialist John A. Edie to the position of Senior Fellow. Mr. Edie will add his expertise to the organization following a long and distinguished career with the Council on Foundations, where he served as senior vice president and general counsel for twenty-two years. He will be instrumental in guiding Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ clients on legal trends and issues related to foundations, and in broadening awareness of new philanthropic institutions around the world.

“John’s extraordinarily broad experience and deep expertise – particularly his global work – uniquely position him to understand, describe and shape the philanthropic instruments that will create positive change,” said Melissa A. Berman, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, an independent service that helps individuals, families, trusts and foundations develop effective giving programs.

Throughout his career, Mr. Edie has advised governing boards and staff of all types of foundations, and donors in the initial stages of forming foundations frequently seek his counsel. Further, he has helped advise governments and foundations in Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico and Russia. “Over the course of several generations, the Rockefellers have set an enviable standard for creative and effective philanthropy, both locally and on an international level,” said Mr. Edie. “The opportunity to blend my experience with the broad collection of professional talent already in place is an exciting prospect. I am eager to contribute what I have learned to their tradition of innovation and integrity.”

Well known for a writing style that makes complex legal issues accessible to the layperson, Mr. Edie is the author of more than ten publications in the field of philanthropy, including First Steps in Starting a Foundation; Family Foundations and the Law; Beyond Our Borders: A Guide To Making Grants Outside the U.S.; and Foundations and Lobbying: Safe Ways to Affect Public Policy. He is a member of the California and District of Columbia Bar Associations and the Exempt Organizations Committee of the American Bar Association. Mr. Edie is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of California Law School (Berkeley).

“As donors increasingly look to assist those outside their own national borders, we know that John Edie’s remarkable expertise from Eastern Europe, Asia, South America and beyond will help donors achieve their goals, said Eileen Rockefeller Growald, Chair of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “We are pleased that he will be adding his considerable knowledge and global perspective to our first-class team at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.”

RPA and The Foundation Incubator Form Strategic Partnership
3/18/03

Thursday, March 20th, 2003

Unique alliance gives donors tools and guidance to maximize philanthropic activities

SAN FRANCISCO and PALO ALTO, Calif., March 18 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and The Foundation Incubator today announced the formation of a strategic partnership that will provide an unparalleled range of professional management services and participatory learning opportunities aimed at helping donors to maximize the impact of their gifts.

A first-of-its-kind alliance, the move represents another advancement in meeting the mounting needs and concerns of modern-day philanthropists, according to Elizabeth L. Bremner, President, The Foundation Incubator and Melissa A. Berman, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. The groups will collaborate in providing services to individual donors; co-sponsoring donor-education programs; increasing awareness of international giving opportunities; and working to support the unique needs of emerging philanthropists.

Founded by the Rockefeller family, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an independent, nonprofit service that helps donors create thoughtful, effective giving programs throughout the world. The Foundation Incubator, an active, engaged community of new and established foundations that stimulates collaboration and innovation in philanthropy, was founded in 2001 to address the needs of the growing number of philanthropists based in Silicon Valley.

“Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has long admired The Foundation Incubator’s groundbreaking concept. This alliance is a natural step toward fulfilling our shared mission to provide donors with the support, information and resources they need to be thoughtful and engaged philanthropists,” said Ms. Berman. “We’re proud to be involved in a partnership that has the potential to shape the future of giving not just in the United States, but also the world.”

Elizabeth L. Bremner, president of The Foundation Incubator, called the relationship’s synergy “very exciting. By pairing our proven incubator approach with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ track record of excellence in foundation planning, grantmaking and program management, we can offer donors a resource of great breadth and depth, and one that will help them see that the possibilities for meaningful and effective philanthropy are limitless,” she said.

According to both Bremner and Judy Belk, the former head of the Levi Strauss Foundation who now leads Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ San Francisco office, the partnership comes at a critical time for donors on the west coast.

“Despite the economic downturn, the region is experiencing unprecedented growth in philanthropy,” said Belk. “Many people have made a commitment that they want to be involved in philanthropy and the services of this collaboration will be invaluable to them,” she continued.

Based in Palo Alto, The Foundation Incubator’s 36 current members include family, corporate, public and community foundations and related philanthropic groups and individuals, with assets totaling approximately $30 billion and $1.6 billion in annual grantmaking. The organization’s peer-learning environment fosters best practices and encourages innovative ideas and new leadership in philanthropy. For more information please contact 650-354-1600 or www.foundationincubator.org.

Headquartered in New York City, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has advised on and managed more than $850 million in giving to 40 countries over the past decade. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors can be reached in San Francisco at 415-543-0733; in New York at 212-812-4330 or www.rockpa.org.

Rockefeller Opens West Coast Philanthropy Office
2/26/03

Saturday, February 22nd, 2003

Rockefeller Opens West Coast Philanthropy Office

Goal is to help regional donors maximize impact of giving

SAN JOSE, Calif., February 26 – Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced the opening of an office in California to assist individuals and families on the West Coast in developing and managing effective giving programs. The expansion comes at a time when the region is experiencing unprecedented growth in philanthropy, with California leading the way, according to Melissa Berman, president and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, who made the announcement here today at the Council on Foundations’ annual Family Foundation Conference.

“Even with the current uncertain economic conditions philanthropic leadership and engagement on the West Coast is burgeoning and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future,” said Ms. Berman. “Opening an office in the Bay Area is a natural step in carrying out our mission to extend global giving and make available to a broad range of donors the considerable philanthropic expertise the Rockefeller family has developed over five successive generations,” she continued. “Now we can meet the needs of donors in the west with a knowledgeable local team that works in close concert with our main office.”

Judy Belk, currently a Senior Advisor with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and well known in the philanthropy community both in California and on a national level, is heading the new office.

“This is a particularly exciting time to be involved in philanthropy, and I am gratified to be in a position to connect West Coast donors – known for their innovation and creativity – with the Rockefellers’ tradition of effective giving and the breadth and depth of resources and knowledge Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors offers,” said Ms. Belk.

Ms. Belk cited several factors that were weighed in the decision to establish a dedicated West Coast office, including:

• The fastest growing segment of California’s philanthropic sector has been the creation of new family foundations with living donors;
• The number of family foundations increased twice as fast as all other foundations in the state and projections point to a significant growth in assets and giving over the next two or three decades;
• Although local giving is still the preference for Californians, support for international and national initiatives is growing and exceeds national trends; and
• There is a greater-than-average emphasis by California donors on results, innovation and active involvement.

“Clearly, over the past decade, major cities on the West Coast have emerged as geographic centers for philanthropic activities, but our research has indicated that a great need remains for advice and counsel on how to maximize the impact of those activities and then build on that momentum to reach the next level,” said Ms. Berman. She also noted that, to further broaden the resources available to clients, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has formed a strategic alliance with The Foundation Incubator, a Silicon Valley-based peer learning community of foundations that stimulates collaboration and innovation in philanthropy.

Ms. Belk brings to her new post more than 20 years of experience in strategic philanthropy, community relations, corporate citizenship and non-profit management, including leading the Levi Strauss Foundation. In addition to acting as an adviser for numerous organizations, she currently serves on the board of the Ms. Foundation and is a trustee for Citizens Fund, a family of socially responsible mutual funds with assets over $800 million.

Ms. Belk nd her California-based team will work closely with their colleagues in the main office to help implement the philanthropic visions and goals of donors on the West Coast. The professionals at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors have extensive experience in a broad cross section of global philanthropic issues, including the environment, education, healthcare, community development and the arts, and offer specialized and sophisticated guidance usually available only within major foundations.

“This new office allows us to address the growing interests and unmet needs among donors in this part of the country,” said Eileen Rockefeller Growald, chairperson of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “The West Coast has been ably represented on our board for several years by noted Bay Area philanthropist Anne Bartley; she was recently joined by Stuart Davidson, who is well known to the West Coast philanthropy community. We believe that these recent developments are further demonstrations of our family’s commitment to enhance and promote philanthropy throughout the world.”

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.

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.