Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Announces Leadership Changes, New Teams Focused on Financial Inclusion and Environment, Rights, & Global Development
As part of its goal to help donors create thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors today announces the appointment of several senior staff members. “These appointments reflect the growing importance of collaboration, interconnectedness and a global view for engaging in effective philanthropy,” stated Melissa Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy. “They also demonstrate our optimism in the value of philanthropy as a lever to shift the status quo.”
New Senior Vice President for Sponsored Projects
Walter Sweet, formerly head of Rockefeller Philanthropy’s Advisory practice, is the new Senior Vice President for the Sponsored Projects and Funds team. Walter brings nearly two decades of experience in philanthropy to this role, in which he will lead a team that offers administrative and programmatic platforms to help donors develop, launch, and promote high-impact philanthropic projects around the world.
“I’m very excited to continue my work with Rockefeller Philanthropy to support and promote our sponsored projects with an extraordinarily talented team that has kept Rockefeller Philanthropy as the gold standard for fiscal sponsorship,” noted Walter. Walter’s experience with fiscal sponsorship at Rockefeller Philanthropy and at the NY Community Trust, along with his substantive expertise, management skills, and knowledge of trends in our sector make him a key asset to the Rockefeller Philanthropy team.
Walter is taking the helm from Jane Levikow, who retired from Rockefeller Philanthropy at the end of January. Jane had an exceptional, decades-long career in philanthropy, and was one of the key developers of the fiscal sponsorship model. Her expertise in fiscal sponsorship and nonprofit management was an invaluable asset to Rockefeller Philanthropy and to the field of philanthropy overall.
Walter is located in Rockefeller Philanthropy’s New York office.
New Senior Vice President for Advisory
Taking over the position of Senior Vice President for Advisory is Greg Ratliff. Prior to joining Rockefeller Philanthropy in 2019, Greg was a pioneer in impact investing at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His extensive experience in philanthropy also included a stint at the ACT Center for Equity in Learning.
Greg’s enthusiasm about this new role is buoyed by the significant changes to philanthropy occurring in the wake of COVID-19. With a deep understanding of the societal inequities the pandemic has laid bare, Greg will steward the advisory team as it works with donors to help them become even more thoughtful, innovative, and effective in increasing resiliency and equity among those we as a sector serve. Greg stated, “I am incredibly excited to lead this team of change agents who are helping our clients realize their visions while making our world a better place.”
Greg is located in Rockefeller Philanthropy’s New York Office.
New Group Lead: Environment, Rights, and Global Development Practice
To further increase opportunities for collaboration and impact among Rockefeller Philanthropy’s clients and projects, Rockefeller Philanthropy recently created an Environment, Rights and Global Development team. Rockefeller Philanthropy Vice President Heather Grady was appointed as Practice Lead for this new team. With significant experience in these areas in countries around the world, as well as systems approaches in philanthropy, Heather will be leading the team to support Rockefeller Philanthropy’s rapidly expanding work on these issues...