# Cafesjian Family Foundation

Cafesjian Family Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Shoreview, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Shoreview, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Shoreview, MN, United States
- **Founded:** 1996
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** cafesjianarttrust.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cafesjian-art-trust-museum

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Gerard Leon Cafesjian established the foundation in 1996. He had built his career at West Publishing in legal information services. The organization channels grants and investments into energy independence, media development, and economic initiatives inside Armenia. The foundation holds direct positions in real estate and cultural assets. Confirmed holdings include the Cafesjian Sculpture Garden and Armenfilm studios in Yerevan plus the Cafesjian Art Trust museum in Shoreview, Minnesota. It also owns office buildings in Burbank, California and wineries in Italy and Hungary. Activity spans North America, Europe, and the Caucasus. Kathleen Cafesjian Baradaran serves as CEO of the related Cafesjian Art Trust. Tom Cafesjian participates in family real estate and foundation matters. The foundation maintains no disclosed professional headcount or additional offices beyond its Minnesota base. No operational events from the last 24 months appear in available records. The foundation operates alongside separate vehicles including the Cafesjian Art Trust and Cafesjian Museum Foundation. Governance remains within the family after the founder's death in 2013.

## Sectors

- Philanthropy
- Real Estate

## People

- Gerard Leon Cafesjian — Founder
- Kathleen Cafesjian Baradaran — CEO and Founding Trustee of Cafesjian Art Trust
- Tom Cafesjian — Family Member

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Cafesjian Family Foundation?

Kathleen Cafesjian Baradaran serves as CEO of the Cafesjian Art Trust and participates in foundation governance. Tom Cafesjian handles family real estate matters that intersect with foundation assets.

### Does Cafesjian Family Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Available records show direct ownership of real estate, studios, and cultural sites rather than commitments to external funds.

### What geographic regions receive the majority of capital deployment?

Primary activity centers on the Republic of Armenia with additional holdings in the United States, Italy, and Hungary.

### How is Cafesjian Family Foundation related to Cafesjian Art Trust?

Kathleen Cafesjian Baradaran leads the Cafesjian Art Trust as CEO and Founding Trustee; the two entities share family oversight and overlapping cultural assets.

## Related profiles

- [Cafbep](https://altss.com/profile/cafbep)
- [Caffeinated Capital](https://altss.com/profile/caffeinated-capital)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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