In the first quarter of 2024, RPA was mentioned in several news publications. View some of the highlights below: President and CEO, Latanya Mapp, was recently featured on the Playfull Podcast with Kristine Michie. Latanya discusses how to increase philanthropic impact and the importance of radical listening. Listen here. Latanya was also quoted in a Barons Penta article discussing the impact that large donations in education can have on the sector. Read more here. Senior Vice President, Renee Karibi-Whyte, discusses the benefits of prize philanthropy with the Associate Pres ..read more

On a Tuesday morning in March during Women’s History Month, Ariela Blätter had some bad news.  “No country in the world affords women the same opportunities as men,” Blätter, president and CEO of Women in International Security, said, quoting from The World Bank’s March 2024 Women, Business, and the Law report.   The report went on to say, in fact, women enjoy fewer than two-thirds the rights of men when taking into account childcare and safety issues.   “Violence physically prevents women from going into work, and childcare makes it cost-prohibitive,” Blätter said.&n ..read more

If we think of the philanthropic sector as a world-class kitchen striving to create the perfect meal, we have many talented chefs with valuable expertise opining on how to best prepare the recipe, but not many chefs are picking up the right ingredients and utensils to actually do the hard work of cooking the meal.   This analogy aptly captures a key finding of a six-month in-depth evaluation of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Shifting Systems Initiative’s progress since its 2016 launch. The main insights and recommendations from this assessment are distilled in the Evaluation ..read more

A conversation between Valerie Rockefeller and Renee Karibi-Whyte Selecting the right leader—particularly when that leader will replace a CEO that has been in place for decades—is crucial for any organization. This process takes on added significance in the philanthropic sector, where leadership not only shapes organizational strategy but also influences broader societal change. The recent experience of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) in appointing Latanya Mapp as its new CEO exemplifies the careful approach needed in such a search, offering practical insights for similar organizations ..read more

In January, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) brought together Community of Practice members and key partners at its inaugural Foresight & Innovation Beehive in Turin, Italy. The more than two dozen participants hailed from six countries across Europe and North America. Langdon Morris, leader and senior partner at InnovationsLab, facilitated the workshop. RPA launched Foresight & Futures Community of Practice to answer questions like “How do we not only cope with change but proactively anticipate the challenges and opportunities, and shape our capabilities, strategies and interve ..read more

It is with great joy and reverence that we celebrate Black History Month. This annual observance serves as a poignant reminder of the invaluable contributions made by Black individuals throughout history, not only to their communities but to the world at large. It is a time to honor their resilience, achievements, and ongoing struggle for equality and justice. This year, as we reflect on the significance of Black History Month, I am reminded of the invaluable lessons taught to me by Elaine Jones, who joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in 1970 and in 1993 became the organization’s first female ..read more

Having been present since the founding of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, I feel this is a time of reflection for me personally and professionally. Unsurprisingly, I find myself thinking a good deal about what has shifted during the past 20-plus years. As I prepare to bid farewell next month, I find myself amazed, grateful and inspired. Amazingly, RPA has evolved into an organization with more than 100 core (and more than 500 projects) employees working to create a more just world. When RPA launched in 2002, there were 10 of us. In addition to our (brand new) New York City headquarters (Ple ..read more

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announced the launch of “Reimagined Philanthropy,” a two-volume publication that goes beyond conventional wisdom in the world of giving to empower emerging and seasoned philanthropists with comprehensive guidance for creating a more just world. Featuring forewords from Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation and Dr. Beth Breeze, the insights and tools shared will empower you to architect positive change with intentionality, structure, and focus. While there is an abundance of information on effective philanthropy, until now there has not been a singula ..read more

Report from the 2023 Women Leaders in Philanthropy Convening at Sunnylands In Spring 2023, a gathering hosted by the Annenberg Trust at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, brought together 22 remarkable women leaders in philanthropy. They were united by a shared purpose: to forge an empowering community of women chief executives to exchange and cross-pollinate ideas, share experiences, and explore collaborative opportunities. Curated to ensure a rich tapestry of organizational types, issue areas, and  personal backgrounds, the event was planned by steering committee members Melissa B ..read more

New chief executive will continue to grow RPA’s impact and build on founding leader Melissa Berman’s long track record of accelerating philanthropy in pursuit of a just world (NEW YORK – October 12, 2023) Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) today announced Latanya Mapp will be its next President and CEO, succeeding Melissa Berman in the role she founded. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our excitement and delight in welcoming Latanya to RPA. Latanya’s 20-year career brokering alliances and community-centered solutions to thorny global challenges, coupled with her passion fo ..read more