Rockefeller Announces Smaller Successor to Popular ‘100 Resilient Cities’ Program

Rockefeller Foundation officials announced today, at a conference in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, that the grant maker is starting the Climate and Resilience Initiative, months after the foundation’s decision to end its ambitious 100 Resilient Cities program.

When it decided in April to end the $165-million program, despite controversy over the decision, the grant maker promised to continue its work in the area of climate change and resilience.

The new program is aimed at identifying, developing, and supporting business-related efforts to back companies and financial programs working to help cities’ most vulnerable people and those who are likely to suffer the most from natural disasters and other catastrophic events.

Rockefeller pledged $8 million as its first grant through the new program. It will be led by Elizabeth Yee, who was vice president for resilience finance in 100 Resilient Cities, which is to end on July 31. The money will be used to continue backing resilience efforts created through 100 Resilient Cities.

The foundation was criticized when officials there confirmed rumors in April that Rajiv Shah, its president, planned to close down the popular 100 Resilient Cities program. The previous president, Judith Rodin, started it in 2013.

Shah and the foundation transferred the program to the Atlantic Council, a think tank in Washington, along with a $30-million grant to help keep a version of the program, under a new name, going. The philanthropist Adrienne Arsht gave the program an additional $25 million.