The Rockefeller Brothers. Photo from RBF website
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, rooted in a century-old tradition of philanthropy, has evolved to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Established in 1940 by the five sons of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.—John D. III, Nelson, Laurance, Winthrop, and David the Fund operates as a private grant-making foundation dedicated to fostering a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.
Who Are the Rockefeller Brothers Fund?
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) emerged as a distinct philanthropic entity from the broader Rockefeller family’s extensive charitable endeavors, including the prominent Rockefeller Foundation.
Its formation aimed to coordinate the philanthropic efforts of the five brothers, who inherited their family’s deep commitment to societal improvement.
The RBF’s mission is clear: to advance social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful global community.
This mission is pursued through a blend of grant-making, strategic investments, and convening key stakeholders to tackle complex issues.
What They Do: A Multifaceted Approach to Philanthropy
The RBF employs a multifaceted approach to philanthropy, focusing on several key areas, referred to as “Thematic Programs” and “Pivotal Place Programs.”
- Thematic Programs: These include Democratic Practice, Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development, and Culpeper Arts & Culture. These programs reflect the Fund’s belief in supporting foundational elements for a thriving society.
- Pivotal Place Programs: Recognizing that certain regions are crucial to global progress, the RBF also focuses efforts on Central America, China, and the Western Balkans. These targeted geographical initiatives aim to address specific challenges and opportunities within these areas.
- Grant-making and Mission-Aligned Investing: Beyond traditional grants, the RBF engages in mission-aligned investing, deploying its assets in ways that further its philanthropic goals. This innovative approach seeks to generate both financial returns and measurable social and environmental impact.
- For instance, the Fund committed $12.5 million to Mainstream Renewable Power Africa Holdings Limited (MPRAH) to expand clean energy across Africa, aligning investments directly with sustainable development objectives.
- Convening and Thought Leadership: The RBF also leverages its influence to convene leaders, foster dialogue, and contribute to global policy discussions, exemplified by its management of The Pocantico Center, a venue for conferences and dialogues.
Global Impact: Advancing Social Change Worldwide
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, alongside the broader Rockefeller family’s philanthropic legacy through the Rockefeller Foundation, has made significant contributions to societal advancement globally.
Historically, the Rockefeller family’s philanthropic interests have spanned education, conservation, health, humanitarian concerns, and the arts internationally for over a century.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund itself has engaged in post-war relief and recovery efforts, providing substantial grants to countries like the Philippines, Greece, and France in the 1940s.
In the mid-20th century, the RBF’s international grant-making emphasized rural economic development in non-industrialized nations, promoting cross-cultural exchanges and capacity building.
They also supported human rights initiatives, including grants to organizations like the American Association for the International Commission of Jurists (AAICJ) and the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR).
Later, the Fund’s programs, organized under the rubric of “One World,” focused on Sustainable Resource Use and World Security, influencing its work well into the 21st century.
The Rockefeller Foundation, a legally independent entity but part of the broader Rockefeller philanthropic tradition, has a remarkable global footprint.
It has been instrumental in shaping public health principles, from eradicating hookworm in the American South and funding the yellow fever vaccine to scaling COVID-19 testing during the recent pandemic.
The Foundation also played a pivotal role in boosting crop yields globally, including in Asia and Africa, through modernizing agricultural practices, an effort often referred to as the Green Revolution.
Furthermore, the Foundation is a key player in connecting people to energy, having advanced solar mini-grid prototypes in India and co-leading the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet to provide reliable, renewable power to underserved communities worldwide.
Impact in Africa: Transforming Lives
Africa has been a significant focus of the Rockefeller family’s philanthropy, with both the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Rockefeller Foundation making substantial contributions.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund launched its West Africa program in 1959.
This initiative provided crucial technical assistance to Ghana and Nigeria, focusing on economic development to improve living standards.
Projects included the development of water supplies, modern poultry farms, and new housing construction methods.
This early engagement laid the groundwork for future development activities in the region.
The Rockefeller Foundation, with a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, has sustained and expanded its commitment to Africa, tackling critical issues such as food security, climate change, and rapid urbanization.
Its work in Africa aims to unleash economic growth and strengthen resilience across the continent. Key initiatives include:
- Agricultural Transformation: Through partnerships like the Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA) with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation has worked to catalyze transformation across Africa’s agricultural value chain. Initiatives like YieldWise explore innovative ways to reduce post-harvest food loss, directly benefiting farmers’ incomes and local ecosystems.
- The Foundation also supports school meal programs, often sourced from local produce grown through regenerative farming methods, providing a reliable social safety net.
- Health System Strengthening: The Foundation has been instrumental in strengthening community health systems across Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it committed $12 million to the Africa Public Health Foundation to support the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in accelerating COVID-19 testing and vaccine rollout in 14 African Union member states.
- This support included strengthening laboratory systems, deploying community health workers, and ensuring vaccinations were administered. Furthermore, the Foundation supports the Global Fund’s Data Science Catalytic Fund, aiming to improve data availability and use for health service delivery in countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso.
- Energy Access and Climate Leadership: Recognizing the critical link between energy access and development, the Foundation’s “1Power” program works to bring renewable energy to sub-Saharan Africa, where a significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity. This effort is complemented by initiatives that catalyze investments for Africa’s climate leadership, promoting sustainable and low-carbon development pathways.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the broader Rockefeller philanthropic legacy have profoundly impacted society by focusing on long-term, systemic change.
From their early efforts in war relief and rural economic development to their modern commitments in sustainable development, peacebuilding, and health, their philanthropy, especially in Africa, has consistently aimed to empower communities and transform lives for a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.
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