Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Founded in 1940 by five third-generation Rockefeller brothers, it advances social change toward a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc gave $60.4M across 646 grants in 2024 (avg $94K), top state New York. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $60,431,602
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 646
- +11.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $93,547
- -3.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $1,418,990,015
- +1.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (136 of 542, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Fund accepts unsolicited requests, but its website says fewer than one percent result in funding and that it rarely funds them. It advises prospective applicants to review program guidelines and recent grants for alignment. Requests are submitted through an online portal. The general eligibility rule is that organizations must be tax-exempt or seek support for an educational or charitable project. The Fund does not fund support to individuals, youth activities, capital expenses, lobbying or the planning or organizing of lobbying, or gala tickets and tables. Meetings, publications, and films are not funded unless directly related to a Fund-supported project. The Culpeper Arts & Culture program only considers unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Application contact: Refer To Website Httpswwwrbforggran
Mailing address: 475 Riverside Drive 900, New York, NY 10115
Phone: (212) 812-4200
Website: https://www.rbf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
Central America Grant Program
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Charles E. Culpeper Arts & Culture Grant Program
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Democratic Practice Grant Program
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc ($5.2M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $11.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($26,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,980 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 979 grants of 2,980 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund identifies China, Central America, and the Western Balkans as pivotal places, and its Culpeper Arts & Culture program supports arts organizations and artists in the New York City region. Its thematic programs also include work in the United States and globally. In 2024, the reported distribution of grant dollars by recipient state included New York (28%), DC (14%), California (9%), and Massachusetts (3%); 35% was listed under an unspecified state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 646 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 136 of 542 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $128K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $48.8M (2020) to $61.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 646 grants totaling $60.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | For Its Trust for Civic Life Project | $4,500,000 |
| Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs | For General Support | $700,000 |
| China Environmental Protection Foundation | For its platform on environmental governance and biodiversity protection | $600,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | For Its Energy Transition Fund | $600,000 |
| Beijing Chaoyang District Yongxu Global Environmental Institute | For General Support | $500,000 |
| Beijing Friends of Nature Charity Foundation | For General Support | $500,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Johnstown Johnstown, PA | For its Ohio river valley regional climate action project | $500,000 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | For the Georgetown Climate Center | $500,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Institute Boulder, CO | For Its State Energy Boost Project | $500,000 |
| Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | For the Richard Rockefeller Fellowship at Columbia Global | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,418,990,015 | $76,104,004 | $94,125,890 | $60,431,602 | 646 | $88,073,796 | $81,136,455 | $66,708,189 |
| 2023 | $1,402,772,081 | $70,847,825 | $88,775,875 | $56,090,579 | 579 | $83,443,420 | $70,759,909 | $64,531,854 |
| 2022 | $1,351,225,045 | $57,831,657 | $98,818,511 | $61,197,509 | 607 | $89,872,597 | $68,147,246 | $67,800,264 |
| 2021 | $1,654,004,790 | $94,665,303 | $90,363,116 | $54,223,167 | 568 | $86,145,237 | $141,800,117 | $70,464,894 |
| 2020 | $1,460,297,611 | $46,026,041 | $80,478,299 | $48,825,661 | 580 | — | $72,541,327 | $61,085,069 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $66.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund’s mission is to advance social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. Its website describes grantmaking that aims to strengthen coalitions, convene people with diverse backgrounds, elevate perspectives, generate ideas, and advance systems change. It also identifies justice and equity as concerns across its programs.
The Fund’s seven programs address democracy, climate change, and peacebuilding, as well as issues in specific places and New York City arts and culture. The Fund’s stated eligibility rule is that organizations must be tax-exempt or seek support for a project that would qualify as educational or charitable.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of supported work. The Community Foundation of Greater Johnstown says its mission is to serve donors’ philanthropic interests in financially supporting its community. Rocky Mountain Institute describes its mission as transforming the global energy system for a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future. Resources Legacy Fund says it builds alliances for solutions to secure a just and resilient world for people and nature.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Fund reported 646 grants totaling $60,431,602. Grant amounts ranged from $40 to $4,500,000, with a median of $60,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $4,500,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc for its Trust for Civic Life Project; $700,000 to the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs for general support; and $600,000 to the China Environmental Protection Foundation for its platform on environmental governance and biodiversity protection. Other grants included $500,000 to the Community Foundation of Greater Johnstown for its Ohio River Valley Regional Climate Action Project, $500,000 to Georgetown University for the Georgetown Climate Center, and $500,000 to Rocky Mountain Institute for its State Energy Boost Project.
For invited applicants, the portal requests a concise narrative of 3–10 pages covering the organization, requested support, context and discrimination or exclusion relevant to the work, proposed methods and outcomes, supporting research, project partners, advocacy and lobbying information, and key staff. First-time grantees may need to provide tax-status documents and recent audited financial statements; all grantees must have an audit no more than five years old on file.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joseph Pierson as trustee and chair. Other listed trustees were Justin Rockefeller, Miranda M. Kaiser, Ayad Akhtar, William Lee, Jennifer Nolan, Heather McGhee, and Wyatt Rockefeller. David Rockefeller Jr. and Peter O’Neill were listed as trustees until October 23, 2024.
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc is led by Stephen B. Heintz, Trustee, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 6 of 26 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stephen B. Heintz
Trustee, President & CEO
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$1.3M (2020) → $1M (2024)
Joseph A. Pierson
Trustee & Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ayad Akhtar
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Rockefeller Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather McGhee
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Nolan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Rockefeller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Quattrone
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miranda M. Kaiser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter O'Neill
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wyatt Rockefeller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Federica Mogherini
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Lee
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Beinart
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theodore Spencer
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Timms
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Teresa Kumar
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Strawbridge
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carlos Alvarado
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janai Nelson
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randa Slim
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth C. Campbell
Executive Vice President, Programs & Communications
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$433K (2020) → $484K (2024)
Geraldine F. Watson
Executive Vice President, Finance, Operations & Pocantico
Executive Vice President, Finance & Operations → Executive Vice President, Finance, Operations & Pocantico, 2023
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$414K (2020) → $484K (2024)
Judy A. Clark
Ed- Pocantico Ctr.
Executive Director & Pocantico Center → Executive Director - Pocantico Center, 2021
Executive Director - Pocantico Center → Ed- Pocantico Ctr., 2024
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$283K (2020) → $391K (2024)
Mark Adiedo
Culture & Chief Diversity Officer
Vice President, Talent & Operations → Culture & Chief Diversity Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$296K (2020) → $346K (2024)
Nancy L. Muirhead
Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Corporate Secretary → Counsel & Corporate Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$283K (2020) → $347K (2024)
Former officers (9)
- Former: Hugh Lawson (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Marnie S. Pillsbury (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Mark Adiedo - Vp People (2021–2023) — Culture & Chief Diversity Officer
- Former: Daniel Levy (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Ryan Crocker (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Valerie Rockefeller (2020–2022) — Trustee & Chair
- Former: Kavita Ramdas (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Marsha Simms (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Wendy Gordon Rockefeller (2020) — Trustee & Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $1.0M, to Stephen B Heintz (Trustee, President & CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
How much does Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc give each year?
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc gave $60.4M across 646 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $56.1M across 579 grants.
What is Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $60,000, and its average grant was $93,547, across 646 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc that year got $62K on average.
Where does Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc give grants?
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's top state is New York, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (112 grants), Washington, DC (94 grants), San Francisco, CA (21 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (20 grants).
Does Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 47% of Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (305 of 646) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "For Its Residency Program" (3 grants).
Who are Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc ($5,200,000 across 3 grants), New Venture Fund ($1,045,000 across 7 grants) and Rocky Mountain Institute ($700,758 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($26,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc?
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc reported $1.4B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $88.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc fund?
The Fund’s mission is to advance social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. Its website describes grantmaking that aims to strengthen coalitions, convene people with diverse backgrounds, elevate perspectives, generate ideas, and advance systems change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc?
The Fund accepts unsolicited requests, but its website says fewer than one percent result in funding and that it rarely funds them. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's EIN?
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1760106. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rockefeller-brothers-fund-inc-morg_039ba7c1122842bd9d9ca9bf298321c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131760106_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rockefeller-brothers-fund-inc-morg_039ba7c1122842bd9d9ca9bf298321c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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