The present invention relates to a functional substance-releasing agent containing a silicic acid ester compound represented by formula (1) below, a process for producing the functional substance-releasing agent, and a composition containing the functional substance-releasing agent. wherein R1 represents a residue of an alcohol which results from removal of one hydroxyl group therefrom, the alcohol being selected from a functional alcohol having a log P value of 2.0 or less and an alcohol having a log P value of 2.1 or more, a plurality of R1s may be the same or different, provided that the silicic acid ester compound has, in one molecule, at least one residue resulting from removal of one hydroxyl group from a functional alcohol having a log P value of 2.0 or less and at least one residue resulting from removal of one hydroxyl group from an alcohol having a log P value of 2.1 or more.