The Bellagio Center/

The Bellagio Center Convening Program

Applications for the 2025 Bellagio Center Convening Program will open in April. Learn more about the Program below.

For more than 110 years, The Rockefeller Foundation has brought people together around the globe to try to solve the world’s most challenging problems and promote the well-being of humanity. Convenings are an important part of how the Foundation realizes its mission by leveraging our reputation, knowledge, and relationships. The centerpiece of this is The Bellagio Center, where we annually host approximately 1,000 people through 60 convenings and 120 month-long residencies.

Convenings at the Bellagio Center have a storied history of bringing together leaders from around the world to advance ideas and catalyze new action to drive positive and far-reaching social change. The Bellagio Center has launched Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance; the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and many other transformative initiatives.

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2024 Bellagio Center Convening Program. Applications for 2025 will open in April. Themes for our 2024 convening program included the Addressing Climate Change, Reinventing Capitalism, Promoting Well-Being, or Open Call tracks. Please read more about each theme below.

Previous Application Themes

  • Addressing Climate Change

    The Addressing Climate Change theme is for convenings that will change systems and provide pathways to mitigate and adapt to the worst effects of climate change.
  • Reinventing Capitalism

    The Reinventing Capitalism theme is for convenings that will reimagine economic systems, improve development finance practices, and innovate on the basic tenets of our global economy in order to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
  • Promoting Well-Being

    The Promoting Well-Being theme is for convenings that will reorient social, political, and economic systems toward balanced economic growth and consumption as a means to a diverse set of more important ends such as community, safety, nature, creativity, and freedom.
  • Open Call

    The open call theme is for convening organizers working across any global development issue. While applications can be based on any topic, they must demonstrate a clear potential to result in impact following the convening.

Because of Bellagio

Successful Convenings:

  • Demonstrate the potential to result in impact following the convening
  • Hinge on a clear, specific, and compelling purpose
  • Engage diverse stakeholders necessary for success during and after the convening
  • Are timely and centered during a moment that helps catalyze impact
  • More information on what makes successful convenings here

How We Support:

  • Convening design resources, to help maximize the experience and impact of your convening
  • Modest travel support for eligible participants
  • Ground transportation from Milan to the Bellagio Center
  • A dedicated convening lead on-site, as well as amenities such as lodging, food, AV etc.
  • More information on our support offerings  here

  • For small ideas, you can go to any retreat, but to think expansive, fearless ideas and then design something innovative and courageous to put them into practice, there is no place like Bellagio.
    Seth Berkley
    CEO, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance

Our Bellagio Center Residents

In 2023, we welcomed 103 residents to the Bellagio Center. Coming from all over the world and representing a wide cross-section of expertise, these residents are some of the most ambitious, innovative, and committed leaders of our time.

Meet Our Residents

The History of the Bellagio Center

The Bellagio Center has a record of major impact, from convenings that led to the Global AIDS vaccine initiative, to residencies that have furthered the work of some of the world’s leading thinkers and creators.

Learn More