Rockefeller Brothers Fund

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) is an American philanthropic foundation established in New York City in 1940 by the five sons of John D. Rockefeller Jr.—John, Nelson, Laurance, Winthrop, and David Rockefeller. It was created as the principal philanthropic vehicle for that generation of the Rockefeller family and remains distinct from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Rockefeller Family Fund. The Fund's stated mission is to advance social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. RBF emerged from the wealth generated by the Rockefeller family's involvement in the oil industry during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its early program reflected the interests of different members of the family. Laurance Rockefeller supported conservation and helped extend family involvement in land preservation in Wyoming, while Nelson Rockefeller promoted modern art and public affairs. The Fund became an important supporter of the Museum of Modern Art and of population-policy work associated with the Population Council. These activities gave RBF a broad identity spanning culture, conservation, social policy, and international affairs rather than a single charitable specialty. The organization expanded substantially in 1951 when it received a $58 million endowment from John D. Rockefeller Jr. The enlarged resources enabled the Fund to support research, institutions, and long-term programs. During the late 1950s, it also financed the Special Studies Project, an extensive policy inquiry conceived by Nelson Rockefeller. Henry Kissinger directed the project, which examined military strategy, foreign policy, international economic policy, governmental organization, and the nuclear arms race. Its findings were published in 1961 as Prospect for America: The Rockefeller Panel Reports and influenced Nelson Rockefeller's political platform. RBF's institutional development included a 1999 merger with the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation. In 2006, David Rockefeller pledged $225 million to establish the David Rockefeller Global Development Fund after his death, strengthening the Fund's international grantmaking capacity. RBF later became particularly associated with climate and environmental philanthropy. In September 2014, it announced an intention to divest its investment assets from fossil fuels, describing the move as both a moral position and an economic opportunity. The decision placed the Fund among prominent foundations responding to climate-change concerns through investment policy as well as grantmaking. The Fund's contemporary work has included programs related to democratic practice, sustainable development, peacebuilding, climate change, international cooperation, and economic and social justice. It is also part of the Steering Group of the Foundations Platform F20, an international network of foundations and philanthropic organizations. RBF supports nonprofit organizations through grants rather than selling consumer products or operating commercial businesses. The organization has also attracted political criticism, particularly over grants to Palestinian, Israeli, and Middle Eastern civil-society and advocacy organizations. Critics have characterized some recipients as supportive of boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns or as connected to organizations accused of links to militant groups. RBF has defended this grantmaking as support for human rights, equal dignity, and efforts to end the Israeli occupation. These disputes illustrate the Fund's role as an advocacy-oriented grantmaker whose funding choices can become part of wider debates over foreign policy, Israel and Palestine, civil society, and philanthropic accountability. Stephen B. Heintz has led RBF as president since 2000 or 2001, depending on the source's dating convention, and Valerie Rockefeller has served as chairwoman. The Fund is a private, family-associated philanthropic institution, not a publicly traded company, a…

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund was founded in New York City in 1940 by John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s five sons: John, Nelson, Laurance, Winthrop, and David Rockefeller. The brothers became the Fund's first trustees and established it as the main philanthropic institution for their generation of the Rockefeller family. It was separate from the Rockefeller Foundation, which had been created by an earlier generation of the family. The Fund's early work reflected the brothers' varied interests. Laurance Rockefeller continued the family's interest in conservation, including support connected with Wyoming land preservation that contributed to the broader development of the lands forming the basis of Grand Teton National Park. Nelson Rockefeller encouraged support for contemporary art, helping make RBF a significant backer of the Museum of Modern Art. The Fund also supported population-policy work associated with the Population Council, continuing John D. Rockefeller's interest in population issues. RBF's resources expanded considerably in 1951 when John D. Rockefeller Jr. provided a $58 million endowment. In the following decade, the Fund supported a major policy initiative known as the Special Studies Project. Nelson Rockefeller conceived the project to examine the strategic problems confronting the United States, and Henry Kissinger was recruited to direct it. Seven panels considered military strategy, foreign policy, international economic strategy, governmental reorganization, and nuclear weapons. One military report was released shortly after the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957. The complete findings were published in 1961 under the title Prospect for America: The Rockefeller Panel Reports and influenced Nelson Rockefeller's policy platform during the 1960 presidential campaign. The Fund's presidents included Nelson Rockefeller from 1956 to 1958, Laurance Rockefeller from 1958 to 1968, Dana S. Creel from 1968 to 1975, William M. Dietel from 1975 to 1987, Colin G. Campbell from 1987 to 2000, and Stephen B. Heintz beginning around 2000. RBF merged with the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation in 1999, broadening its institutional base. In 2006, David Rockefeller pledged $225 million for a fund intended to support global development after his death. During the twenty-first century, RBF developed a stronger public identity around climate change, sustainable development, peace, democratic institutions, and social justice. Its September 2014 fossil-fuel divestment announcement was a significant institutional decision. Rather than treating investment management as separate from grantmaking, the Fund presented its portfolio policy as consistent with its environmental objectives. The decision occurred amid a wider divestment movement among universities, foundations, religious institutions, and public-interest organizations. RBF also became involved in contentious debates concerning Middle East philanthropy. According to the supplied reference material, the Fund has made grants to organizations working on Palestinian rights, Israeli civil rights, peace, and related advocacy. Critics have alleged that some recipients support BDS or have connections to groups accused by Israeli authorities or other commentators of links to militant organizations. The Fund and its president have framed the work in terms of ending occupation and advancing justice, dignity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians. Because these allegations and characterizations are politically disputed, they should be treated as claims made by particular sources rather than uncontested institutional findings. Today, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund remains a private philanthropic organization associated with the Rockefeller family. It does not manufacture products or operate as a commercial company. Its principal activities are grantmaking, program development, policy engagement, research support, and participation in philanthropic networks. RBF is part of the Steering Group of the Foundations Platform F20. Stephen B. Heintz is identified as its president, while Valerie Rockefeller is identified as chairwoman.

1. 2014Fossil-fuel divestment announced

   The Fund announced plans to divest its assets from fossil fuels.

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2. 2006David Rockefeller Global Development Fund pledged

   David Rockefeller pledged $225 million to create a global-development fund after his death.

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3. 1999Merger with Charles E. Culpeper Foundation

   RBF merged with the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation, combining philanthropic operations and resources.

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4. 1961Prospect for America published

   The Special Studies Project's findings were published as Prospect for America: The Rockefeller Panel Reports.

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5. 1956Special Studies Project begins

   Nelson Rockefeller initiated the Special Studies Project, later directed by Henry Kissinger, to study major United States strategic and governmental challenges.

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6. 1951Major endowment received

   The Fund expanded substantially after receiving a $58 million endowment from John D. Rockefeller Jr.

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7. 1940Foundation established

   The five sons of John D. Rockefeller Jr. established the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in New York City as their principal shared philanthropic vehicle.

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A Rockefeller-family philanthropic foundation positioned around long-term support for a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world, with emphasis on climate, democracy, peace, international development, and social change.

• Philanthropic grant programsFoundation grantmaking1940

  RBF's principal offering is grant support for nonprofit organizations and initiatives. Its grantmaking has covered climate change, sustainable development, peacebuilding, democracy, human rights, international development, and social justice. Grants are generally intended to support institutional capacity, advocacy, research, organizing, or long-term program work rather than provide commercial goods.

• Special Studies ProjectPolicy research1956

  The Special Studies Project was a major research initiative financed by RBF from 1956 to 1960. It assembled expert panels to analyze military strategy, foreign policy, international economics, government organization, and nuclear arms. Its reports were published in 1961 and represented one of the Fund's most prominent historical efforts to connect philanthropy with national-policy research.

• David Rockefeller Global Development FundInternational development philanthropy2006

  Announced in connection with David Rockefeller's 2006 pledge, this fund was intended to strengthen support for global development. The initiative reflects RBF's role in international grantmaking and its effort to create a durable philanthropic resource for development-related work.

• 2014Fossil-fuel divestment

  United States · International philanthropic sector

  RBF announced that it planned to remove fossil-fuel investments from its portfolio. The decision connected the Fund's investment management with its environmental grantmaking and placed it within the wider institutional divestment movement.

  Outcome. The announcement established fossil-fuel divestment as a visible part of RBF's institutional identity, although the supplied material does not provide a complete accounting of implementation.

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• International peace, democracy, and sustainable-development grantmaking

  United States · International

  Across its contemporary programs, RBF supports organizations working on democratic practice, peace, sustainable development, climate, and social justice. The work is conducted primarily through grants and partnerships rather than consumer-facing campaigns.

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• 2023Grant to the Quincy Institute for Responsible StatecraftOther

  The grant was made in the context of debates over non-interventionist foreign policy, Middle East policy, and the role of philanthropic funding in public-policy advocacy.

  What changed. Reference material reports that RBF awarded the Quincy Institute $100,000. Stephen B. Heintz was also identified as chair of the institute's board.

  Aftermath. The grant became part of public reporting about networks linking foreign-policy organizations and Middle East advocacy groups.

  Grant amount. $100,000 (2023)

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• 2014Decision to divest from fossil fuelsStrategy

  The Fund's environmental priorities and the broader climate-divestment movement created pressure for foundations to align their investment portfolios with their stated missions.

  What changed. RBF announced plans to divest its assets from fossil fuels.

  Aftermath. The decision made RBF a prominent example of a family foundation using investment policy to reinforce climate-related philanthropy.

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• 1999Merger with Charles E. Culpeper FoundationM&A

  The merger combined RBF with the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation and expanded the Fund's institutional resources.

  What changed. The two philanthropic organizations merged.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened RBF's foundation structure and grantmaking base.

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• Controversy over Israel- and Palestine-related grantsControversy

  RBF has faced criticism over grants to organizations involved in Palestinian advocacy, Israeli civil-rights work, BDS-related activity, and Middle East policy. Some critics have alleged that certain recipients have links to militant or politically controversial organizations. RBF has defended its grantmaking as support for human rights, peace, and equal dignity. The competing descriptions are politically contested and should not be treated as settled facts without reviewing the underlying grant records and reporting.

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• 2023Rockefeller Brothers Fund supports Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

  Reference material reports that RBF awarded a $100,000 grant to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and that Stephen Heintz chaired its board. The grant has been discussed in reporting about non-interventionist foreign-policy networks and Middle East advocacy.

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• 2014Rockefeller Brothers Fund announces fossil-fuel divestment plan

  RBF announced that it intended to divest its assets from fossil fuels, presenting the decision as aligned with climate responsibility and long-term investment considerations.

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• Rockefeller Brothers Fund joins international foundations network

  RBF is identified as a member of the Steering Group of the Foundations Platform F20, an international network of foundations and philanthropic organizations.

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1. Rockefeller Brothers Fund
2. Rockefeller Brothers Fund official website
3. Foundations Platform F20
4. International peace, democracy, and sustainable-development grantmaking