The Rockefeller Foundation Invests in Community of Undergraduate Leaders to Combat Pressing Issues

Grant awarded to The Resolution Project – a dynamic organization developing a generation of socially responsible young leaders.

NEW YORK, NY., Dec. 11, 2017 / — The Rockefeller Foundation has awarded a generous management grant to the Resolution Project in support of its global community of young leaders who are empowered to be positive agents of change, while still in school. Resolution Fellows are undergraduate students, who are identified at youth conferences around the world, and are galvanized into starting a social enterprise in their home community. They receive funding, mentorship, and a global network of resources from the organization, which boasts a community of more than 500 industry experts and volunteers.

So far, more than 350 Resolution Fellows have yielded over 200 social ventures in 70 countries. These social ventures have positively impacted more than 1.25 million people around the world.

“For more than a century, The Rockefeller Foundation has supported innovative change-makers working in communities around the world. The Resolution Project is igniting lifelong careers in social impact, and we are proud to support the growing work of the Resolution Fellows as they scale their enterprises and transform their communities,” said Zia Khan, Vice President, Initiatives and Strategy, The Rockefeller Foundation. 

The funding from one of the nation’s foremost philanthropies highlights the tremendous impact Resolution has achieved in its short history and the bright future ahead for the nonprofit, which is emerging as a recognized leader in the field of youth-led social entrepreneurship.

“We are so grateful to The Rockefeller Foundation for its generous support of our mission and for investing in youth leadership,” said George M. Tsiatis, CEO and Co-Founder of The Resolution Project.  “This grant will allow for the strategic expansion of resources and support for our Fellows, empowering them to positively impact more lives through their social enterprises and their leadership and to contribute to more resilient communities worldwide.”

“We believe that by empowering an undergraduate student to deeply impact ten people in their home community today as Resolution Fellows, they will be better prepared to impact a million people, ten years from now.  This is in keeping with The Rockefeller Foundation’s deep commitment to innovation, future cities, and resilient communities, as well as solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.”

Both organizations are deeply aligned in their mission to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Rockefeller’s leadership in supporting individuals, communities and systems that are better prepared to withstand catastrophic events is especially pertinent in light of recent natural disasters around the U.S. and its territories. Their support of The Resolution Project comes just a few weeks after Resolution Fellows were also recognized for their leadership in strengthening local responses to recent hurricanes and earthquakes in their home communities.

ABOUT ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

For more than 100 years, The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission has been to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today, The Rockefeller Foundation pursues this mission through dual goals: advancing inclusive economies that expand opportunities for more broadly shared prosperity, and building resilience by helping people, communities and institutions prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. To achieve these goals, The Rockefeller Foundation works at the intersection of four focus areas—advance health, revalue ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and transform cities—to address the root causes of emerging challenges and create systemic change. Together with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation strives to catalyze and scale transformative innovations, create unlikely partnerships that span sectors, and take risks others cannot—or will not.

To learn more, please visit http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org.

Media contact: Jared Proudfoot, (212) 259-9449, jared@resolutionproject.org