Melissa A. Berman
President and CEO, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.

Melissa Berman is President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., an innovative nonprofit philanthropy service founded by the Rockefeller family. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ mission is to help donors create thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world. The organization manages foundations and trusts; structures giving programs and major gifts; offers a charitable giving fund; and coordinates donor collaboratives. In 2008, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors managed or facilitated $175 million in giving to 30 countries. It has offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago.

A frequent speaker, Ms. Berman has been profiled in the New York Times and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. Her ideas and views are featured regularly in the Economist, Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Financial Times, USA Today, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She has been interviewed on the Today Show, NPR, CNBC-TV, and Bloomberg. She has written articles for the New York Times, Across the Board, The Miami Herald and other national publications.

Ms. Berman has led Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors since January 2001. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, Research and Program Development at The Conference Board, a nonprofit, independent business research organization. She oversaw all research and publications on management practices, including global corporate citizenship and governance.

Ms. Berman is a director of City Harvest, the Foundation Center, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. She is Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University’s Business School. She serves as a member of the national advisory panel for New Ventures in Philanthropy and as a Judge for the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Citizenship, a presidential award.

Ms. Berman holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.