Abstract: The Rockefeller foundation is set up by Rockefeller and his son to sponsor the development of educa- tion, medicine, public health, agriculture and pure science. In the 1920s and 1930s, aiming at enhancing the lev- el of physical research, the Rockefeller foundation hired famous teachers from Europe for the young generation which boosted the trend of the young Americans studying in Europe. It participated in the construction of major sci- entific institutes around the world actively. It also promoted the hot topics in physics in Europe by offering learning grants and scientific research funds. In short, the Rockefeller foundation made glorious contributions in the history of modern physics.

Key words: belief, philanthropy, Rockefeller foundation, modern physics