Americas Society, with its business-oriented counterpart the Council of the Americas, is a cultural and arts focused organization founded by David Rockefeller, Jr. to promote cooperation and understanding in the Americas. Americas Society hosts musicians, artists, writers, and scholars in the United States from throughout the Western Hemisphere. Through the partnership between Americas Society and Council of the Americas, the groups hold conferences throughout the Americas as well as executive, young professional, and women’s working groups.
History
In 1965, David Rockefeller, Jr. founded Americas Society as a cultural and arts organization as a complement to the business-oriented Council of the Americas that Rockefeller founded in 1958. 1 2 Both organizations work closely together but are separate. 3 Americas Society is a forum to promote culture, education, debate, and dialogue in the Americas. 4 The Council of the Americas works to advance economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere. 5
Programs
As part of its mission to promote education, debate, and dialogue in the Americas, Americas Society hosts cultural and public policy programs. 6 Americas Society hosts musicians, artists, writers, and scholars from the Western Hemisphere to present to U.S. audiences. 7 Americas Society also hosts and conducts art programs in South and Central America. 8 Americas Society runs Visual Arts, the longest-standing space in the United States to exhibit and promote art of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. 9
Council of the America’s public policy programs include research, publications, and conferences for leaders from the public and private sector to exchange ideas and formulate opinions on challenges in the Americas. 10 Americas Society and Council of the Americas hosts an annual Latin American Cities Conference and programs on energy transition to fight global warming, technology, trade, anti-corruption, and improving healthcare. 11
Americas Society and Council of the Americas hosts a Young Professional of the Americas to network and engage in issues as well as a working group for women on gender equality. 12 The two organizations also hold Presidents of the Americas and CFO executive meetings throughout the year. 13
Finances
In 2019, Americas Society had assets of $60,875,850. 14 According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2019 Americas Society recorded $6,328,071 in revenue and $5,340,777 in expenses. 15 In 2019, Americas Society spent $2.1 million on public policy programs and over $1.3 million on cultural programs. 16 In 2018, Society had $9,651,753 in revenue and $5,479,493 in expenses. 17
Donors
Donors to Americas Society include the Ford Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, FACE Foundation, Teiger Foundation, Smart Family Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, William Talbott Hillman Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Augustine Foundation, and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. 18
Leadership
Susan Segal has been president and CEO of Americas Society and Council of the Americas since 2003. 19 Previously, Segal was founding partner of her own investment firm focusing on Latin America and U.S. Hispanics. 20 Prior, Segal was partner and Latin America group head at J.P. Morgan Partners/Chase Capital Partners. 21 Segal has contributed at least $9000 to Democratic candidates and causes including Joe Biden, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), and EMILY’s List. 22
References
- “In Memory of AS/COA Founder David Rockefeller.” Americas Society. March 20, 2017. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/articles/memory-ascoa-founder-david-rockefeller.
- Council of the Americas, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2018.
- “About AS/COA.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/about/about-ascoa.
- “Americas Society/Council of the Americas.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/.
- “Americas Society/Council of the Americas.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascoaonline/.
- Americas Society, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), Part III, 2019.
- Americas Society, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), Part III, 2019.
- Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org.
- “About.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/visual-arts.
- Americas Society, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), Part III, 2019.
- “Events.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/attend; “Membership.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/engage#signature-programs.
- “Young Professionals of the Americas.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/young-professionals-americas; “AS/COA Women’s Hemispheric Network.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/ascoa-womens-hemispheric-network.
- “Membership.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/engage#signature-programs.
- Americas Society, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
- Americas Society, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
- Americas Society, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), Part III, 2019.
- Americas Society, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2018
- “Funders.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/articles/tropical-political-caribbean-art-under-visitor-economy-regime-pocket-book; “Funders.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/articles/geles-cabrera-museo-escultorico-pocket-book; “Americas Society.” Mellon Foundation. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://mellon.org/grants/grants-database/grants/americas-society/48900248/; “Funders.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/music
- “Susan Segal.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-segal-6aa91b44/.
- “Susan Segal.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/bio/susan-segal.
- “Susan Segal.” Americas Society. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.as-coa.org/bio/susan-segal.
- Center for Responsive Politics. “Susan Segal.” Opensecrets.org. March 22, 2021. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Susan+Segal&cycle=&state=&zip=&employ=&occupation=&jurisdiction=&cand=&type=