Erica Guyer
Erica Guyer is an American lawyer specializing in legal matters for charities and private foundations who, as of October 2026, is general counsel and corporate secretary of The Rockefeller FoundationThe Rockefeller FoundationThe Rockefeller Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation headquartered in New York City. It was chartered by New York State legislation in 1913 with funding from Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, with the mission “to promote the well-being of mankind throughout the world.” In its early years it funded global public health, medical education, and yellow fever vaccine research; in the mid-20th century it supported agricultural programs that came to be known as the “Green Revolution”; and in recent years it has focused its work on energy, health, food, and climate.Open the full entry, responsible for the foundation’s legal, compliance and governance affairs. She has worked at the foundation since 2011 and was elected to her current position by the board of trustees in March 2023.
Contents9 sections
Key facts
Early Life: Education
2004–2005Fulbright Scholar
September 2011Joining the Rockefeller Foundation
Before joining the foundation, Guyer began her legal career as an associate in the New York office of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, and later was a senior associate at Withers Bergman LLP, handling international and domestic grantmaking, program-related investments, tax and governance matters for public charities and private foundations.[1][3][1]
2018Promoted to Deputy General Counsel
In 2018, Guyer was promoted to Deputy General Counsel.[3]
May 2022Becoming Acting General Counsel
From May 2022, Guyer served as the foundation’s acting general counsel.[3]
March 27, 2023Appointed General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
In March 2023, the foundation’s board of trustees elected Guyer general counsel and corporate secretary, and the foundation announced the appointment on March 27. The position advises trustees on legal, ethical and governance matters. Rockefeller Foundation President Rajiv J. ShahRajiv ShahRajiv Shah is an American development policy official and philanthropic leader who served as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2010 to 2015 and has been the 13th president of The Rockefeller Foundation since 2017.Open the full entry said he looked forward to Guyer’s guidance on board deliberations and governance, and to her continuing to oversee the foundation’s legal, ethics and governance functions and lead its legal team.[1][3][3][3]
In announcing the appointment, the foundation listed several initiatives she had helped advance during her tenure, including: modernizing public health systems through Precision Public Health in 2019, and the subsequent COVID-19 response; a 2020 commitment of $1 billion over three years to drive an inclusive post-pandemic recovery; the 2020 creation of RF Catalytic Capital, Inc. (RFCC), the foundation’s public charity; the launch of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) at COP26 in 2021, to which the foundation committed $500 million, its largest single commitment since its founding in 1913; the announcement of the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA) with the U.S. State Department and the Bezos Earth Fund at COP27 in 2022; and a $105 million investment in its Good Food Strategy in 2022.[3][3][3][3][3][3]
Current Responsibilities
As of October 2026, Guyer manages the foundation’s legal services, including corporate, governance, grantmaking and compliance, serves as a strategic adviser on grants, contracts and program-related investments, and oversees the foundation’s archives program. She also serves as secretary of RF Catalytic Capital, the foundation’s public charity, and speaks frequently at conferences on tax-exempt organizations.[4][1][1]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
The Rockefeller Foundation: Official website: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/ (opens in a new window).[1]