David Rockefeller Pledges $100-Million to Museum of Modern Art

David Rockefeller, chairman emeritus of the Museum of Modern Art, in New York, announced that he would include a $100-million bequest to the institution in his will.

In addition to the $100-million commitment, Mr. Rockefeller, 89, said he plans to start giving the museum $5-million a year until his death.

Mr. Rockefeller said the museum could use the annual gifts in whatever way it pleased.

Glenn Lowry, director of the institution, said the museum would use the money to expand its educational-outreach programs, publications, and symposiums, as well as pay for visiting exhibits.

Mr. Lowry said that when Mr. Rockefeller, who is the only living child of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, a founder of the Museum of Modern Art, made the announcement of his bequest plans to the museum’s board, the room was silent for a moment and then all the trustees and staff members in the room burst into applause.

“The board was stunned and amazed,” said Mr. Lowry. “David has always been incredibly generous, but I think it took a while to register the magnitude of the gift, especially the extra $5-million a year.”

Mr. Lowry said that after Mr. Rockefeller announced his gift, he challenged his peers on the board to join together to match his $100-million pledge.

History of Giving

Mr. Rockefeller, who retired as chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank, had previously given the museum $77-million to rebuild the institution, which reopened to the public in November. The museum has raised $720-million of the $858-million needed for the expansion campaign, Mr. Lowry said.

Over his lifetime, Mr. Rockefeller has also donated more than $120-million to the museum, as well as more than 20 art works, including pieces by Cézanne, Picasso, and Matisse.

In an interview, Mr. Rockefeller said that he made his latest gift because he realized the museum had spent so much money to build and renovate its new space that “it seemed to me it was very important that there be added endowment so we could support the added costs of the new building.”

He said he would place no restictions on the annual donations because “I felt they know most what are the most urgent needs and there was no need for me to specify a particular place to put it.” However, he said, “one of the areas that they need a lot for is education. But there are many things coming up where they need funds.”