1998 ANNUAL REPORT
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION – THE FOUNDATION
The Rockefeller Foundation is a philanthropic organization endowed by John D. Rockefeller and chartered in 1913 for the well-being of people throughout the world. It is one of America's oldest private foundations and one of the few with strong international interests. From its beginning, the Foundation has sought to identify, and address at their source, the causes of human suffering and need.
In 1998 Foundation programs were organized around eight core strategies listed on the following page. Together, these strategies constituted the Foundation's commitment to help define and pursue a path toward environmentally sustainable development consistent with individual rights and a more equitable sharing of the world's resources.
The Foundation's work in 1998 was divided among the following program areas: the arts and humanities, equal opportunity, agricultural sciences, health sciences, population sciences, global environment, and special African initiatives including female education.
The balance of the Foundation's 1998 grant and fellowship programs supported work in building democracy, international security, international philanthropy, and other special interests and initiatives. While concentrating its efforts in these areas over the past year, the Foundation is in the process of adjusting its course and defining a new organizational program structure for 1999 and beyond.
The Foundation maintains the Bellagio Study and Conference Center in northern Italy for conferences of international scope and for residencies for artists, scholars and policymakers, and other professionals from around the world.
The Foundation is administered by its president through a staff working in six locations: New York City, Cairo, Nairobi, Mexico City, Bangkok and Lilongwe, Malawi. An independent board of trustees, which meets four times a year, sets program guidelines and financial policy, and approves all appropriations.
© 2003 The Rockefeller Foundation CORE PROGRAM STRATEGIES
The following are the eight core strategies around which Foundation program work was organized in 1998.
Core Program Please be aware that the strategies described here are based on the Rockefeller Foundation's 1997 and 1998 programming structure. All program guidelines are currently under revision and will be announced in the fall of 1999.
AFRICAN INITIATIVES STRATEGY: Build human capacity and institutional infrastructure in Africa with an emphasis on closing the gender gap in school enrollment and achievement
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES STRATEGY: Increase crop yields of smallholder farmers in developing countries profitably and without degrading natural resources.
ARTS AND HUMANITIES STRATEGY: Understand and engage difference across changing societies through the arts and humanities.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STRATEGY: Support vibrant and diverse urban communities, assisting them to gain access to the fundamental elements of opportunity including employment, good schools, freedom from discrimination and full participation in the democratic process.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY: Build international leadership capable of initiating and carrying out innovative approaches to sustainable development.
STRATEGY: Facilitate the transition to a new energy paradigm based on sustainability, renewable resources, efficient use, economic viability and equity in access.
HEALTH SCIENCES STRATEGY: Build human capacity for population-based health care in developing nations.
POPULATION SCIENCES STRATEGY: Mobilize resources to satisfy unmet demand for family planning and reproductive health services.
© 2003 The Rockefeller Foundation THE PRESIDENT’S LETTER
NEARLY ONE YEAR AGO I WAS HONORED TO BE NAMED PRESIDENT OF THIS FOUNDATION. IN TAKING ON THIS ASSIGNMENT, I WAS STRUCK BY THE ENORMITY OF THE JOB: TO LEAD A GROUP OF PEOPLE DEDICATED TO "THE WELL-BEING OF MANKIND."
At the same time it seemed quite clear what the tasks ahead of me should be: