Funding to universities by the Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation has a significant reputation for international commitments and support, today focusing on social and environmental actions that include improving access to electricity, food, healthcare and economic opportunity.

• A study of its giving between 2014-18 has revealed that 8% of its total giving ($788m) has gone to universities and higher education institutions around the world.

• Our analysis has identified $65.6m has been disbursed in grants to 111 universities in 18 countries in the past five reported years.

• US universities are the biggest beneficiaries. 81 American universities received 80% of Rockefeller university giving, totaling $52m. Year on year, giving to American universities has grown. In 2014, 58% of Rockefeller’s university grants went to US institutions - by 2018, it had increased to 92%.

• UK universities are the next biggest beneficiaries. Seven institutions received $5.2m in the past five years, or 8% of all Rockefeller university giving.

• South Africa is the next biggest group of beneficiaries receiving 4% of Rockefeller university giving.

• The single biggest university beneficiary of Rockefeller funding is Harvard. It has received $9.7m between 2014-18 - 15% of all Rockefeller university giving.

• City University of New York (CUNY) is the second biggest recipient ($9.6m) while Columbia University is third ($4.2m).

• The top 10 university beneficiaries received 65% of Rockfeller university giving ($42m). They include some of the biggest names in higher education - Harvard, Columbia, New York, Stanford, MIT, Cornell and Oxford.

• Regionally, Europe is the second biggest regional beneficiary - 90% of European giving heads to the UK.

• African universities are the third biggest regional beneficiary - eight universities in six African countries received $3.7m. 68% of African funding goes to South Africa.