The Rockefeller Brothers Fund made a single, large grant in this period to a philanthropic intermediary for a democracy- and civic-life-focused initiative. Their giving here emphasizes strengthening civic life and public trust through grantmaking to organizations that convene, advise, or run field-wide initiatives rather than direct service providers. This suggests a strategic, systems-level approach to civic engagement and democracy support.
A $4.5 million grant in 2025 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc for the Trust for Civic Life project captures the Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc’s current emphasis on civic life, public trust, and field-building intermediaries. The funder’s recent work is not limited to one issue area: it also backs climate and energy transition efforts, environmental governance, democracy-strengthening initiatives, and arts and culture. Several of its larger awards support organizations that convene networks, manage funds, or run platform-style initiatives rather than only direct service programs. Recent examples show that pattern across issue areas. The fund awarded $1.5 million to Power Shift Africa for its Africa Climate Energy and Development Program, while also giving $1 million to Ceres Inc for its Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets and $1 million to Potential Energy Coalition Inc for its Science Moms project. In another strand of work, it supported the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing with repeated large general-support grants. The Fund’s portfolio also includes arts-and-culture grantmaking through the Culpeper Arts & Culture program and place-based initiatives in Central America, China, and the Western Balkans.
Within climate and energy, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc backed multiple institutions working on policy and systems change. It gave $1 million to Trustees of Tufts College for the Climate Policy Lab and $500,000 to Rocky Mountain Institute for its State Energy Boost Project. It also supported Georgetown University with $500,000 for the Georgetown Climate Center. On environmental governance, the fund gave $600,000 to China Environmental Protection Foundation for its platform on environmental governance and biodiversity protection, and $700,000 to Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs for general support. For climate finance and debt, Latindadd Red Latinoamericana Por Justicia Economica Y Social received $650,000 for its work on debt and climate. The fund also supports civic and democratic practice. American Academy of Arts and Sciences received $500,000 for implementation of the Our Common Purpose report, and Climate Jobs National Resource Center Inc received $500,000 for general support.
$61.4M
$1.4B
$76.1M
$94.1M
Most grants fall between $40K and $100K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$100K
STEPHEN B HEINTZ
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 1,210 | $115.8M | 64.8% |
| 2 | China |
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Concentrated: one large grant to an intermediary organization (philanthropic advisor) to fund a strategic, sector-wide civic initiative rather than many small, direct-service grants.
Notable grantees: Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc. (Trust for Civic Life project)
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range: the 25th percentile is $40,000, the median is $75,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent list also shows many larger program grants at $500,000 and above, including repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years. That pattern appears with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc, Power Shift Africa, Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, Beijing Friends of Nature Charity Foundation, and Beijing Chaoyang District Yongxu Global Environmental Institute. The fund is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it makes grants to individuals. It also accepts unsolicited requests through an online portal, though the fund notes those requests are rarely funded.
Grantmaking is nationally distributed, but New York receives the largest share of awards, with 37% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent grants also land in Beijing, Nairobi, Boston, Washington, DC, Boulder, Lima, Cambridge, and Johnstown. The country distribution is concentrated in the US, followed by China; other grant locations include the United Kingdom, Guatemala, Israel, the Netherlands, and several additional regions in the recipient list. The pattern combines US-based policy and intermediary organizations with grantees in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Its recent program areas include democratic practice, sustainable development, peacebuilding, arts and culture, and Pivotal Place programs in Central America, China, and the Western Balkans. Recent grants also show support for climate and energy transition, environmental governance, civic life, and field-building intermediaries.
The grant-size distribution centers on $40,000 at the 25th percentile, $75,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger program grants such as $4.5 million, $1.5 million, and multiple $500,000 grants.
Yes. It has an online unsolicited grant request portal, and it also notes that unsolicited requests are rarely funded because staff are highly engaged in proactively identifying grantees. The Culpeper Arts & Culture program considers unsolicited requests only during its annual call for proposals.
The recent record shows repeated support to several organizations across multiple years. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc, Power Shift Africa, Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, Beijing Friends of Nature Charity Foundation, and Beijing Chaoyang District Yongxu Global Environmental Institute each appear more than once.
TRUSTEE, PRESIDENT & CEO
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 87 |
| $22M |
4.7% |
| 3 | Serbia | 61 | $3.4M | 3.3% |
| 4 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 50 | $2.6M | 2.7% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 49 | $4.7M | 2.6% |
| 6 | Other Countries | 46 | $2.4M | 2.5% |
| 7 | Guatemala | 39 | $3.2M | 2.1% |
| 8 | Israel | 35 | $2.2M | 1.9% |
| 9 | Montenegro | 25 | $1.1M | 1.3% |
| 10 | Netherlands | 19 | $2.1M | 1.0% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $4,500,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS TRUST FOR CIVIC LIFE PROJECT |
| INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS | BEIJING, CH | $700,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHINA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOUNDATION | BEIJING, DO | $600,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PLATFORM ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION |
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS ENERGY TRANSITION FUND |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR THE RICHARD ROCKEFELLER FELLOWSHIP AT COLUMBIA GLOBAL |
| BEIJING CHAOYANG DISTRICT YONGXU GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE | BEIJING, CH | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR THE GEORGETOWN CLIMATE CENTER |
| BEIJING FRIENDS OF NATURE CHARITY FOUNDATION | BEIJING, XI | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER JOHNSTOWN | JOHNSTOWN, PA | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS OHIO RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL CLIMATE ACTION PROJECT |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BOULDER, CO | $500,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS STATE ENERGY BOOST PROJECT |
| BRI INTERNATIONAL GREEN DEVELOPMENT COALITION | BEIJING | $450,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS GREEN DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT AND FINANCE PARTNERSHIP |
| CHINA AFRICA PROJECT | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $400,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PROJECT ON SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH |
| BEIJING ENTREPRENEUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOUNDATION | BEIJING, CH | $400,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RESOURCES LEGACY FUND | SACRAMENTO, CA | $400,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PROJECT, EARTH INSIGHT |
| THE ECOLOGY TRUST | READING | $400,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS FUNDERS FOR FAIR TRADE INITIATIVE'S WORK ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY |
| GUANGDONG HARMONY FOUNDATION | GUANGZHOU | $400,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| 2030 INC | SANTA FE, NM | $350,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAINAN ZHIYU SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CEN | HAIKOU | $350,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCK ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY INSTITUTE | BEIJING, SH | $350,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHINA COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT | BEIJING | $350,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $350,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PROJECT, THE PARTNERSHIP FUNDS |
| EQUATION CAMPAIGN AND GLOBAL CLIMATE LEGAL DEFENSE | NOVATO, CA | $325,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE NEW SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PROJECT, THE INSTITUTE ON RACE, POWER AND POLITICAL ECONOMY |
| CLEAN AIR INITIATIVE FOR ASIAN CITIES CENTER INC | PASIG CITY, NC | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS CHINA OFFICE |
| DIALOGUE EARTH | LONDON | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OXFAM AMERICA INC | BOSTON, MA | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PROJECT ON STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY IN GUATEMALA |
| NEW VENTURE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS TRUSTED ELECTIONS FUND |
| SHENZHEN ZERO WASTE ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC WELFARE UNDERTAKINGS DEVELOPMENT C | SHENZHEN, NA | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS GLOBAL CHINA INITIATIVE |
| CHOOSE LOVE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PROJECT THE COLLECTIVE FOR REFUGEE LEADERSHIP IN MENA |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $275,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $263,423 | 2025 | FOR ITS CLIMATE AND NATURE CONVENING |
| INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $252,000 | 2025 | FOR THE ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND'S GLOBAL TRAVEL AND LEARNING FUND |
| INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS CLIMATE PROGRAM |
| CLIMATE JOBS NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MELIORE | BRUSSELS | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS GLOBAL STRATEGIC CLIMATE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM |
| RISE EDUCATION FUND | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS WORK TO EDUCATE YOUNG VOTERS |
| LATINO THEATER COMPANY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS LATINX THEATER INITIATIVE |
| RECLAIM FINANCE | PARIS | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR WORK ON ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR |
| STAND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED NATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS PROGRAM THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICES' ACCELERATED PARTNERSHIP FOR RENEWABLES IN AFRICA PROJECT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR REBUILD BY DESIGN, A PROJECT OF ITS INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE |
| BEIJING HAIDIAN DISTRICT SHAN SHUI CONSERVATION CENTER | BEIJING, HA | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MULTIPLIER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT |
| GREENFAITH | NEW YORK, NY | $240,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASSOCIACAO SUMAUMA ORGANIZACAO DE COMUNICACAO E PROJETOS SOCIAIS | SAO PAULO | $231,421 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOODWELL CLIMATE RESEARCH CENTER | FALMOUTH, MA | $225,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS FINANCIAL TASKFORCE FOR TROPICAL FORESTS PROJECT |
| LAUDATO SI' MOVEMENT | WASHINGTON, DC | $225,000 | 2025 | FOR ITS WORK DECARBONIZING FINANCE |
| TRACKER GROUP LIMITED | LONDON | $220,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LI FOUNDATION LIMITED | SINGAPORE | $220,000 | 2025 | FOR ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF EMERGENT PHILANTHROPY IN ASIA |
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
$700,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CHINA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOUNDATION
$600,000FOR ITS PLATFORM ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$500,000FOR THE RICHARD ROCKEFELLER FELLOWSHIP AT COLUMBIA GLOBAL
BEIJING CHAOYANG DISTRICT YONGXU GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE
$500,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
BEIJING FRIENDS OF NATURE CHARITY FOUNDATION
$500,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
FOR ITS OHIO RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL CLIMATE ACTION PROJECT
BRI INTERNATIONAL GREEN DEVELOPMENT COALITION
$450,000FOR ITS GREEN DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT AND FINANCE PARTNERSHIP
CHINA AFRICA PROJECT
$400,000FOR ITS PROJECT ON SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
BEIJING ENTREPRENEUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOUNDATION
$400,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
THE ECOLOGY TRUST
$400,000FOR ITS FUNDERS FOR FAIR TRADE INITIATIVE'S WORK ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GUANGDONG HARMONY FOUNDATION
$400,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
HAINAN ZHIYU SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CEN
$350,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
ROCK ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY INSTITUTE
$350,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CHINA COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
$350,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
EQUATION CAMPAIGN AND GLOBAL CLIMATE LEGAL DEFENSE
$325,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
FOR ITS PROJECT, THE INSTITUTE ON RACE, POWER AND POLITICAL ECONOMY
CLEAN AIR INITIATIVE FOR ASIAN CITIES CENTER INC
$300,000FOR ITS CHINA OFFICE
DIALOGUE EARTH
$300,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
FOR ITS PROJECT ON STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY IN GUATEMALA
SHENZHEN ZERO WASTE ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC WELFARE UNDERTAKINGS DEVELOPMENT C
$300,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
FOR ITS PROJECT THE COLLECTIVE FOR REFUGEE LEADERSHIP IN MENA
FOR THE ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND'S GLOBAL TRAVEL AND LEARNING FUND
FOR ITS CLIMATE PROGRAM
MELIORE
$250,000FOR ITS GLOBAL STRATEGIC CLIMATE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM
RECLAIM FINANCE
$250,000FOR WORK ON ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR
UNITED NATIONS
$250,000FOR ITS PROGRAM THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICES' ACCELERATED PARTNERSHIP FOR RENEWABLES IN AFRICA PROJECT
FOR REBUILD BY DESIGN, A PROJECT OF ITS INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE
BEIJING HAIDIAN DISTRICT SHAN SHUI CONSERVATION CENTER
$250,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
ASSOCIACAO SUMAUMA ORGANIZACAO DE COMUNICACAO E PROJETOS SOCIAIS
$231,421FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
WOODWELL CLIMATE RESEARCH CENTER
$225,000FOR ITS FINANCIAL TASKFORCE FOR TROPICAL FORESTS PROJECT
LAUDATO SI' MOVEMENT
$225,000FOR ITS WORK DECARBONIZING FINANCE
TRACKER GROUP LIMITED
$220,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
LI FOUNDATION LIMITED
$220,000FOR ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF EMERGENT PHILANTHROPY IN ASIA
Current and upcoming funding from Rockefeller Brothers Fund that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must be tax-exempt or seeking support for a project that would qualify as educational or charitable. Unsolicited requests are rarely funded.
Who can apply: Organizations must be tax-exempt or seeking support for a project that would qualify as educational or charitable.
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