Melissa Berman is the founding President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., an innovative non-profit philanthropy service launched by the Rockefeller family in 2002.
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ mission is to help donors create thoughtful, effective philanthropy throughout the world. RPA develops strategic plans, conducts research, manages foundations and trusts, structures major gifts, coordinates donor collaboratives and provides regranting and fiscal sponsorship services. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors annually facilitates approximately $200 million in giving.
Before her leading role at Rockefeller, Melissa served at the Conference Board, a business research organization, as Senior Vice President for research and program development.
Melissa lectures at Columbia University Business School, where she is an Adjunct Professor of Business in two departments, Management and The Tamer Center for Social Enterprise. The latter department focuses on teaching leaders to use their skills to address social and environmental challenges in their careers. As an expert in the field of philanthropy, she has been a guest lecturer at many of the top universities across the world.
A regular public speaker, Melissa has been interviewed or featured in many high-profile US publications and news channels. She is also a member of the International Council of the New Israel Fund.
Melissa graduated with a BA from Harvard University and holds a PhD from Stanford University.
