The Rockefeller Foundation has announced that more than $450 million in public, private, and philanthropic commitments has been mobilized to support community development and economic opportunity across the United States through its “Big Bets for America” initiative.
The announcement was made during the third convening of the program held in Cleveland, where over $350 million in new commitments were secured to support workforce development, housing, infrastructure, and economic mobility projects in Ohio and surrounding regions.
The Big Bets for America initiative brings together leaders from government, philanthropy, business, and nonprofits to identify large-scale solutions to pressing economic and social challenges. Since its launch in late 2025, the program has convened more than 1,200 leaders across multiple U.S. cities, including Oklahoma City, Baltimore, and Cleveland.
A major highlight of the Cleveland event was a $300 million experiential learning initiative led by JobsOhio, aimed at addressing workforce shortages in key industries such as manufacturing, aerospace, energy, healthcare, and technology. Additional investments included funding for affordable housing, industrial site redevelopment, and emerging technology programs designed to expand job access in underserved communities.
The Rockefeller Foundation also committed funding toward broader national priorities, including workforce development strategies, childcare and education access, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in public services.
Foundation leadership emphasized that the initiative is designed to bring together unlikely partnerships across sectors to accelerate scalable solutions that improve long-term economic outcomes. The Cleveland convening also highlighted investments in housing affordability, energy workforce development, and public-private innovation projects.
Officials stated that the goal of Big Bets for America is to move beyond discussion and toward coordinated action, aligning capital and expertise to address structural economic challenges affecting communities across the United States.
The Rockefeller Foundation, which has invested over $30 billion globally over the past century, said the initiative reflects its continued focus on leveraging cross-sector collaboration and innovation to expand opportunity and economic mobility for American communities.
