Our Global Work

 

 

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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

It's Global, It's Local -- It's GLOCAL

See how one city might show the world how to cope with the impending water disasters that climate change can bring. Read MoMA's "Rising Currents" exhibition blog.

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Unlocking Ministries of Health

A key Foundation effort helps ministries of health close the gap between knowing what can improve the health of both individuals and populations and taking action to achieve results.

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The Bellagio Center: Changing the Way We Solve Global Problems

Read about conferences and residencies that promote innovative, collaborative solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges.

BROCHURE PDF

 
Before you apply for a Bellagio Residency...

Be sure to visit the Bellagio Application Resource Center for suggestions and tips about application development and a schedule of upcoming Webinars.

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InnoCentive—Using the Wisdom of Crowds

Crowdsourcing, or open innovation, is a relatively new innovation model that allows companies and institutions to look beyond their own four walls to increase the flow of creative ideas and knowledge from a wide network of people to solve problems. The work at InnoCentive, a Rockefeller Foundation partner, is a leading example of open innovation.

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