Person:John D. Rockefeller III (1)

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John Davison Rockefeller III (March 21, 1906 – July 10, 1978) was a major philanthropist and third-generation member of the prominent Rockefeller family. He was the eldest son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, and the grandson of John D. Rockefeller. His siblings were Abby, Nelson, Laurance, Winthrop, and David.

Rockefeller felt that he was predestined to manage the family endeavours as the eldest scion of his five sibling generation – a view with which his brothers, particularly Nelson, took issue. His career before the 1960s was marred by bitter struggles with Nelson over control of Rockefeller Center and with his father over politics, particularly the anti-semitic and racist policies of the Williamsburg restoration.

Rockefeller eventually settled on philanthropy as his major interest (while Nelson and Winthrop devoted themselves to politics, Laurence to conservation and David to banking). He was a major force behind the establishment of the Council on Foundations, the Foundation Center, and Independent Sector. He took a leading role in organizing the Commission on Foundations and Private Philanthropy (better known as the Peterson Commission) and the Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs (better known as the Filer Commission). He also made the initial donation to support Yale University's Program on Non-Profit Organizations, the first academic research center to focus on nonprofits.

In addition to his interest in philanthropy, Rockefeller made major commitments to supporting organizations related to East Asian affairs, including the Institute of Pacific Relations, the Asia Society, and the Japan Society. He was also a major supporter of the Population Council.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 John D. Rockefeller III, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. (Online: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.).