• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
FeaturesRockefeller Foundation

Rockefellers plan to pull their charity fund out of fossil fuels

Fortune Editors
By
Fortune Editors
Fortune Editors
Down Arrow Button Icon
Fortune Editors
By
Fortune Editors
Fortune Editors
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 22, 2014, 7:53 AM ET
Rockefeller Family Discusses Concerns About Direction Of ExxonMobil
NEW YORK - APRIL 30: Stephen B Heintz (C), President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Neva Rockefeller Goodwin (L), economist and great-granddaughter of John D Rockefeller, and Connecticut State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier attend a news conference in which Rockefeller family members voiced concern about the direction of the oil company ExxonMobil April 30, 2008 in New York City. Among other things, the family members called for the oil giant to explore today's alternate fuels in light of the evolving energy industry. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)Photo by Spencer Platt — Getty Images

This post is in partnership with Time. The article below was originally published at Time.com

By Rishi Iyengar, TIME

(TIME)–The Rockefeller oil dynasty is set to divest its charity foundation from fossil fuels, the New YorkTimes reports.

The family, whose patriarch John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil in 1870, will put its Rockefeller Brothers Fund — an $860 million philanthropic organization — into the same category as around 180 other institutions, including religious organizations and pension funds, which have pledged to divest any assets tied to fossil fuels in lieu of cleaner and more-sustainable alternatives.

Hundreds of wealthy individuals have made similar moves. The Times cites a statement from Arabella Advisors that says a total of $50 billion from various groups, and $1 billion from individuals, has been divested from fossil fuels in recent years.

The Rockefeller fund has already replaced its investments in coal and tar sands entirely while investing in more alternative energy sources, but its president Stephen Heintz said that progress toward complete divestment from fossil fuels is being made slowly but surely. “We’re moving soberly, but with real commitment,” he said.

The announcement comes on the eve of a U.N. climate-change summit, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets of New York City on Sunday demanding more concrete action on global warming.

About the Author
Fortune Editors
By Fortune Editors
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Features

FeaturesThe Boring Company
Two firefighters suffered chemical burns in a Boring Co. tunnel. Then the Nevada Governor’s office got involved, and the penalties disappeared
By Jessica Mathews and Leo SchwartzNovember 12, 2025
25 days ago
CoreWeave executives pose in front of the Nasdaq building on the day of the company's IPO.
AIData centers
Data-center operator CoreWeave is a stock-market darling. Bears see its finances as emblematic of an AI infrastructure bubble
By Jeremy Kahn and Leo SchwartzNovember 8, 2025
30 days ago
Libery Energy's hydraulic fracturing, or frac, spreads are increasingly electrified with natural gas power, a technology now translating to powering data centers.
Energy
AI’s insatiable need for power is driving an unexpected boom in oil-fracking company stocks 
By Jordan BlumOctober 23, 2025
2 months ago
Politics
Huge AI data centers are turning local elections into fights over the future of energy
By Sharon GoldmanOctober 22, 2025
2 months ago
A plane carrying Donald Trump Jr. arrives in January in Nuuk, Greenland, where he is making a short private visit after his father, President Trump, suggested Washington annex the autonomous Danish territory.
EnergyGreenland
A Texas company plans to drill for oil in Greenland despite a climate change ban and Trump’s desire to annex the territory
By Jordan BlumOctober 22, 2025
2 months ago
Three of the founders of Multiverse Computing.
AIChange the World
From WhatsApp friends to a $500 million–plus valuation: These founders argue their tiny AI models are better for customers and the planet
By Vivienne WaltOctober 9, 2025
2 months ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Real Estate
The 'Great Housing Reset' is coming: Income growth will outpace home-price growth in 2026, Redfin forecasts
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Nvidia CEO says data centers take about 3 years to construct in the U.S., while in China 'they can build a hospital in a weekend'
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The most likely solution to the U.S. debt crisis is severe austerity triggered by a fiscal calamity, former White House economic adviser says
By Jason MaDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says Europe has a 'real problem’
By Katherine Chiglinsky and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Big Tech
Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook for the metaverse. Four years and $70 billion in losses later, he’s moving on
By Eva RoytburgDecember 5, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Supreme Court to reconsider a 90-year-old unanimous ruling that limits presidential power on removing heads of independent agencies
By Mark Sherman and The Associated PressDecember 7, 2025
16 hours ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.