Jonas Bendikson
Since 1913, the Rockefeller Foundation has supported life-changing work on almost every continent. Today we continue to fund efforts across the globe, wherever we believe we can have the greatest impact.
In everything we do, we attempt to expand opportunities for individuals, communities and nations to build the resilience and equitable growth they need to adapt and thrive in the 21st century. Our funding also demonstrates that we are not only citizens of the world, but of the United States, where our headquarters are located.
Along with our regional offices in Bangkok, Thailand, and Nairobi, Kenya, the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center provides a setting for international dialogue and collaborative work.
Some of Our Current Initiatives
Linking Global Disease Surveillance Networks
Establishing transnational detection, monitoring, and communication systems to strengthen disease prevention
The Foundation’s investment in disease surveillance networks began in 2001 with its support for the trailblazing Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance Network. Since then, this initiative has also helped form the East African Infectious Disease Surveillance Network and the Southern Africa Center for Infectious Disease Network. These networks are all building sustainable methods of exchanging and sharing information about communicable diseases which can improve both health and economic stability.
Advancing Innovation Processes to Solve Social Problems
Building models to expand the use of cutting-edge innovation methods to achieve social impact
Some of the Foundation’s most dynamic grantees for this initiative are from Asian countries, demonstrating that this sector’s newest ideas are coming from across the globe, not just from developed countries. Innovation successes in Asia will serve as models for other regions.
Protecting American Workers’ Economic Security:
Campaign for American Workers
Shaping plans, products, and policies to provide a modern economic safety net
This initiative promotes policies and tools to increase savings and retirement security. It also fosters demonstrations that ensure more secure and portable health care coverage. In addition, it supports evidence-based analysis of proposed and current policies on the economic security of American workers, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Our Work in Exploration
Each time the Foundation identifies a new area of focus within one or more of our five issue areas, we begin to hone our strategy, during an exploratory phase. For example, to boost the economic security of low-income American workers, the Foundation is focusing on the green employment sector. This effort aims to maximize the “green” growth areas of the economy, such as opportunities presented by the demand for home-energy retrofits, while benefiting low- and moderate-income workers.
The Foundation is also attempting to determine whether India’s rapidly-growing infrastructure of cell phone towers can be harnessed to provide clean energy services and universal electricity access in poor communities.
