Rodin was elected president of The Rockefeller Foundation, becoming the first woman to lead the century-old philanthropic institution.
On March 1, 2005, Judith Rodin was elected president of The Rockefeller Foundation, becoming the first woman in the foundation's nearly century-long history to hold its presidency.
Founded in 1913 by John D. Rockefeller, the foundation had long been one of the most influential philanthropic institutions in the world, shaping global public health, agricultural development, and scientific research. Rodin's election to its top leadership position represented a historic breakthrough for women in the traditionally male-dominated world of major philanthropic institutions.
During her twelve-year tenure, Rodin steered the foundation toward new priorities including resilience-building in the face of climate change and urbanization, innovative approaches to global health, and initiatives supporting economic opportunity for vulnerable populations worldwide. She launched the foundation's Global Resilience Partnership and its 100 Resilient Cities program, initiatives that helped cities worldwide better prepare for social, economic, and physical challenges.
Her leadership at Rockefeller cemented her reputation as one of the most influential women in American institutional life, having now broken barriers at both an elite Ivy League university and a premier global philanthropic foundation. Her tenure at the foundation lasted until 2017, during which she authored The Resilience Dividend (2014), reflecting on lessons learned from her work on global resilience.