As 2022 comes to a close, we at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors have much to be grateful for and reflect on, not the least of which is the culmination of our 20^th year serving donors and working to make philanthropy more effective.

Earlier this year, we took this milestone opportunity to engage in a deep analysis of why we exist, how we serve the philanthropy sector and what we add to society more broadly, resulting in a new mission:

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors accelerates philanthropy in pursuit of a just world.

Our new mission highlights the direct impact we have not only on our clients, but the philanthropic sector as a whole through our partnerships, collaboration, and thought leadership articles and publications. It sets a direction for us—a just world—to aim for in every aspect of our work.  We’re packing a lot into the phrase “a just world.” A just world exhibits equity so that everyone has an opportunity to live a rewarding, productive life without fear of unjust persecution. Voices are heard regardless of where, how or from whom they come. A just world values and cares for our natural resources, so they are not damaged or inappropriately exploited for personal gain. A just world means that societies are peaceful, as well as culturally and economically vibrant. Just societies operate with  fair, predictable, and equitable systems.

By highlighting our “pursuit” of that goal, our new mission reminds us that there is much to do create a just world. Finally, our new mission adds urgency to how we engage with others to make philanthropy have a stronger, faster, more significant impact on individuals, communities and the planet.

We also asked  what values we need to fulfill our mission. Using an organization-wide process, we found a high degree of commonality and conviction on what is most important to us:

• We believe that philanthropy can help create a better world.
• We make decisions that center people and communities.
• We believe philanthropy has a responsibility to pursue equity.
• We uphold the highest standards of integrity and trust.
• We are committed to learning and sharing knowledge.

These values are aspirational, and manifesting them is up to us individually and collectively. Our core principles now also include a statement on diversity, equity and inclusion.

This is a pivotal moment of growth, opportunity and challenge for philanthropy. All of us hope at RPA that, through the efforts of many people and organizations, philanthropy is becoming more inclusive, more trust-based, and working toward being more impactful. As we work toward that shared vision, we are excited to expand on the learnings, insights, and relationships we have built, and forward to the next 20 years of accelerating philanthropy in pursuit of a just world.

 

 

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