The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Established in 1913, it supports initiatives intended to promote the well-being of humanity, with work spanning energy, food, health, economic opportunity, and finance.
The Rockefeller Foundation at a glance
In short: The Rockefeller Foundation gave $233.2M across 381 grants in 2024 (avg $612K), mostly in New York. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $233,227,602
- -15.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 381
- -63.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $612,146
- +128.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $170,914
- Total assets
- $6,401,585,166
- +2.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (107 of 307, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (54% 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 The Rockefeller Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its proposal guidance describes a formal letter of request, a proposal of approximately 5–10 pages, and a project budget; it says materials must be in English and submitted electronically. The filing directs applicants to Statement 32 for forms, materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Office Of Grants Management
Mailing address: 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 852-8465
Website: https://rockefellerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Rockefeller Foundation
Who The Rockefeller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was RF Catalytic Capital Inc ($101.0M across 7 grants). Together the top 10 received $156.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($200,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
4,074 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,233 grants of 4,074 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says it works in the United States and around the world. Its website lists the U.S. and the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Italy, including the Bellagio Center, among its locations. In 2024, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 10% to recipients in Washington, DC, 6% to Texas, and 2% to California; the filing lists an additional 15% under an unspecified state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 381 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Rockefeller Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 107 of 307 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $175K; repeat grants $1.1M. How we count
Medians: $150K first-time, $238K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 47% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 133% 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 $175.1M (2020) to $440.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 381 grants totaling $233.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RF Catalytic Capital Inc New York, NY | Toward the costs of launching and operationalizing its efforts to harness the full potential of green energy to create a more sustainable and equitable world | $75,000,000 |
| American Heart Association Inc Dallas, TX | Toward the costs of generating evidence to help the health sector scale food is medicine interventions to benefit lower-income, historically marginalized groups in the us | $11,800,000 |
| Co-Impact Philanthropic Funds Inc New York, NY | Toward the costs of the gender fund to transform health, education, and economic systems to ensure gender equitable and inclusive outcomes which allow all people to live fulfilling lives | $10,000,000 |
| RF Catalytic Capital Inc New York, NY | Towards the costs of the invest in our future fund to accelerate emissions reduction and the equitable implementation of federal funding | $10,000,000 |
| Co-Impact Philanthropic Funds Inc New York, NY | For use by co-impact, a global collaborative for systems change, toward the costs of funding systems change efforts in health, education and economic opportunity focusing on underserved populations with the greatest need | $8,500,000 |
| RF Catalytic Capital Inc New York, NY | Building local capacity to increase access to electricity in africa | $7,384,000 |
| Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis & Malaria | Toward the costs of a laboratory systems catalytic fund to strengthen laboratory capacity across low- and middle-income countries for infectious disease detection and response | $7,000,000 |
| RF Catalytic Capital Inc New York, NY | Expanding access to and affordablilty of electricity in africa | $6,417,744 |
| World Food Programme | Toward the costs of producing a scientific update of the eat-lancet commission on food, planet, health in order to inform shifts towards healthy and sustainable food environments, procurement practices, and public food access | $3,901,164 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc Pittsburgh, PA | A matching gift program that matches donations from eligible employees and trustees to eligible charitable organizations. | $3,152,963 |
Ready to take the next step with The Rockefeller Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation states that its endowment is approximately $6 billion and that it has invested more than $26 billion in philanthropic capital since its founding.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,401,585,166 | $415,515,666 | $358,514,671 | $233,227,602 | 381 | $395,916,370 | $253,907,538 | $298,209,260 |
| 2023 | $6,225,179,743 | $238,147,048 | $460,190,655 | $275,477,614 | 1,029 | $455,201,320 | $177,015,304 | $292,052,548 |
| 2022 | $6,105,561,455 | $335,723,448 | $352,601,013 | $199,168,884 | 977 | $433,934,557 | $38,529,319 | $342,308,070 |
| 2021 | $7,467,445,865 | $704,223,491 | $612,589,261 | $440,890,677 | 903 | $596,911,360 | $440,981,825 | $359,180,845 |
| 2020 | $7,117,904,789 | $356,063,644 | $285,600,759 | $175,106,160 | 784 | — | $72,587,310 | $255,140,661 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rockefeller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $298.2M 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 Foundation’s mission is to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Its stated areas of work include improving access to electricity, advancing food systems that benefit people and the planet, addressing climate-related health challenges, and expanding economic opportunity. It also describes work in innovative finance and transforming the energy, food, health, and finance systems.
Its 2024 grants included support for energy access and affordability, food security and sustainable food systems, health interventions, gender-equitable systems change, pandemic preparedness, and emissions reduction. The Foundation also operates the Bellagio Center, which it describes as a resource for dialogue and collaborative problem-solving. In 2024, the center hosted 62 convenings and 111 residents, with approximately 1,448 participants across both programs.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantees. The American Heart Association describes its mission as promoting longer, healthier lives; Co-Impact describes its work as building just and equitable systems through collaborative funding; and the NREL Foundation describes its mission as advancing an affordable and secure energy future.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 381 grants totaling $233,227,602. Grant amounts ranged from $400 to $75 million, with a median of $170,914.
Among the largest reported grants were $75 million to RF Catalytic Capital Inc. for work to harness green energy; $11.8 million to the American Heart Association for evidence to help scale food-as-medicine interventions; and two grants to Co-Impact Philanthropic Funds Inc. of $10 million and $8.5 million for systems-change work. Other large grants included $7 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria for laboratory capacity, $3,901,164 to the World Food Programme for work related to healthy and sustainable food environments, and $2.5 million to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a pandemic preparedness fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Afsaneh Beschloss as Investment Committee Chair and Paul Polman as Audit Committee Chair. Trustees listed include Agnes Binagwaho, Gordon Brown, Laura Cha, Mellody Hobson, Donald Kaberuka, Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, Sharon Percy Rockefeller, and Juan Manuel Santos Calderon. The filing notes Gordon Brown’s service as of March 2024 and Mellody Hobson’s service through June 2024.
The Rockefeller Foundation is led by Rajeev J. Shah, President on every filing since 2020; 18 of 19 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rajeev J. Shah
President
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$1.2M (2020) → $1.7M (2024)
James G. Stavridis
Board Chair & Executive Committee Chair
Trustee → Board Chair & Executive Committee Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Patricia Stonesifer
Budget Talent & Impact Committee Chair
Trustee → Budget & Compensation Committee Chair, 2021
Budget & Compensation Committee Chair → Budget Talent & Impact Committee Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Paul Polman
Audit Committee Chair
Trustee → Audit Committee Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Ravi Venkatesan
Trusteeship Committee Chair
Trustee → Trusteeship Committee Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Afsaneh Beschloss
Investment Committee Chair
On filings since 2022
2.5 hrs/week
$11K (2022) → $9K (2024)
Adam Silver
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Agnes Binagwaho
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Donald Kaberuka
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Juan Manuel Santos Calderon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Sharon Percy Rockefeller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Gordon Brown
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$11K (2024)
Laura Cha
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chun Lai
Chief Investment Officer
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$1.2M (2020) → $1.1M (2024)
Erica Guyer
Senior Vice President, Chief-Legal, Ethics & Governance
Acting General Counsel & Corp. Secretary → Senior Vice President, Chief-Legal, Ethics & Governance, 2023
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$371K (2022) → $548K (2024)
Natalye Paquin
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$168K (2022) → $887K (2024)
Irena Dimario -
Interim Treasurer & CFO
New on the 2024 filing
35 hrs/week
$291K (2024)
Keith Olson
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2024 filing
35 hrs/week
$509K (2024)
Former officers (9)
- Former: Mellody Hobson (2020–2024) — Trustee · Filing note: Thru 062024
- Former: Dominick Impemba (2020–2023) — Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer · Filing note: Thru 072023
- Former: Yifei Li (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Irena Dimario (2023) — Interim Treasurer & CFO
- Former: Maria R. Santos Valentin (2020–2022) — General Counsel & Corporate Secretary · Filing note: Thru 5/2022
- Former: Martin Leibowitz (2020–2022) — Investment Committee Chair · Filing note: Thru 062022
- Former: Steven Vanroekel (2020–2022) — Chief Operating Officer · Filing note: Thru 112022
- Former: Richard D. Parsons (2020–2021) — Board Chair & Executive Committee Chair · Filing note: Through 53121
- Former: Walter Isaacson (2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Through 132020
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 $1.7M, to Rajeev J Shah (President). 19 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Rockefeller Foundation
How much does The Rockefeller Foundation give each year?
The Rockefeller Foundation gave $233.2M across 381 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $275.5M across 1,029 grants.
What is The Rockefeller Foundation's typical grant size?
The Rockefeller Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $170,914, and its average grant was $612,146, across 381 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Rockefeller Foundation that year got $175K on average.
Where does The Rockefeller Foundation give grants?
The Rockefeller Foundation gives mostly in New York: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (10%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (70 grants), New York, NY (53 grants), Boston, MA (11 grants) and San Francisco, CA (7 grants).
Does The Rockefeller Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of The Rockefeller Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (112 of 381) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Rockefeller Foundation's largest grantees?
The Rockefeller Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include RF Catalytic Capital Inc ($100,951,744 across 7 grants), Co-Impact Philanthropic Funds Inc ($18,500,000 across 2 grants) and American Heart Association Inc ($13,374,845 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($200,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Rockefeller Foundation?
The Rockefeller Foundation reported $6.4B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $395.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $298.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Rockefeller Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Its stated areas of work include improving access to electricity, advancing food systems that benefit people and the planet, addressing climate-related health challenges, and expanding economic opportunity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rockefeller Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Rockefeller Foundation's EIN?
The Rockefeller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1659629. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Rockefeller Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rockefeller Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Rockefeller Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-rockefeller-foundation-morg_4a7b2719968e438f9fb4f1b58d3b70d5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131659629_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Rockefeller Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-rockefeller-foundation-morg_4a7b2719968e438f9fb4f1b58d3b70d5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Rockefeller Foundation'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.
The Rockefeller Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?