Selection Process and Criteria | Financial Assistance | Application Requirements | Application Checklist | FAQs I PDF List of Past Conferences
Selection Process and Criteria
Decisions for conferences are based on:
- alignment with the Foundation’s mission
- the timeliness of the convening,
- the conference design, preferably focused on outcomes,
- the potential impact,
- the mix of participants and perspectives,
- the qualifications of the conference organizer(s), and
- the suitability and value of the Center for the proposed convening.
Applications are reviewed by the senior program leadership of the Rockefeller Foundation, who make the final selection.
Financial Assistance
The Foundation provides room and board without charge for all meeting participants. Personal expenses (phone and fax, for example) are the individual’s responsibility. Most conference participants cover and arrange for their own travel, although assistance is available for those who meet the criteria below.
Conference leaders are welcome to apply to the Bellagio Fund for a grant to provide travel support for participants from developing countries. Details on applying for travel funds will be provided when the meeting has been scheduled.
Application Requirements
The application and documentation must be completed online in English.
Applicants must submit the application via the online application form (see link below).
A final decision will be made within 6-8 weeks of the submission date. The checklist below is helpful for the online application process.
Application Checklist
During the online conference application process, the following documents will be required, and must be attached as Word or PDF documents:
- A 250-word summary of the conference, focusing on the issue to be addressed, expected outcomes and how the meeting’s success will be evaluated.
- A detailed conference proposal (1,250 words maximum).
- A tentative agenda/work plan.
- A tentative participant list, including (in alphabetical order): last name, first name, gender, nationality, title, affiliation, and a one-sentence description of the likely contribution of the participant (please type surname in capital letters).
- Abbreviated career highlights and curriculum vitae for the principal organizer (who is the contact person) as well as for the other organizers, if any, highlighting previous experience in organizing international meetings or working in group situations and/or team problem solving, and any publications or achievements relevant to the proposed meeting (maximum four pages).
If you’ve previously organized a conference at Bellagio, a summary, no more than 250 words, of the outcomes of any Bellagio meeting related to the current proposal.
If you are organizing the conference on behalf of an institution or university department, submit an official letter of request on your organization’s letterhead, signed by the head of your department or institution. (This may be sent via post). See sample.
If you or your conference is NOT affiliated with an institution, supply three references with knowledge of your project. They must be able to respond via email. Upon submission of a proposal, the online form will automatically email your references requesting an evaluation of the proposal (you will receive a copy of each letter of request.) We will only accept reference letters sent directly to the Bellagio Center Office; letters may not be submitted through the applicant.
Application Deadline
Conference applications are accepted on a rolling basis. We suggest that you apply at least six months in advance. As of April 2010, the schedule is fairly full through the autumn. The Bellagio Center is closed December to February, and we anticipate that we will soon start scheduling for March 2011. Before submitting your application, you may email us at bellagio_conf@rockfound.org to check availability for the time you have in mind. Please note, however, that we do not reserve space until after an application is accepted.
Click here to begin your online application
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When are the application deadlines?
A: Conference applications are now on a rolling admissions deadline. We suggest you apply six months in advance (but no more than nine). You may email us at bellagio_conf@rockfound.org beforehand to check availability. However, please note that we do not reserve space until after an application is accepted.
Q: Can we apply to hold a series of meetings at Bellagio?
A: Yes, series of meetings are possible. However, the Foundation does not guarantee space for the full series of meetings. Each meeting in the series will be evaluated separately, with assessments of previous meetings a key factor in our decision to host subsequent meetings.
Q: The meeting I am planning is several months away. Do I have to submit a participant list now?
A: While we understand that participants cannot make firm commitments for a meeting that has not been scheduled, we encourage organizers to survey potential participants and ascertain interest, subject to convenient scheduling. The proposed list should be your “best estimate” of who will participate in the meeting. Once participants are invited a confirmed list must be submitted two months prior to your meeting. The Foundation reserves the right to decline last minute changes.
Q: Our organization is holding an annual retreat that we would like to schedule at Bellagio.
A: The Bellagio Center has a policy that annual retreats or meetings where the participants are affiliated with one organization are not considered.
Q: Is the Bellagio Center available to rent for meetings or events?
A: The Bellagio Center is not available as a rental facility. All meetings go through a rigorous review process and are awarded the space on a competitive basis.
Selection Process and Criteria | Financial Assistance | Application Requirements | Application Checklist | FAQs I PDF List of Past Conferences
