# Durfee Foundation

Durfee Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Los Angeles, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Los Angeles, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 700 S. Flower St., Suite 560, Los Angeles, CA 90017, United States
- **Founded:** 1960
- **Assets under management:** Under $100M (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** durfee.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/durfee-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Durfee Foundation was established in 1960 by Dorothy Durfee Avery and R. Stanton Avery, the inventor of the self-adhesive label and founder of Avery Dennison Corporation. Three generations of the Avery family govern the institution, with granddaughter Carrie Avery serving as President and Board Chair. The original endowment remains tied to the Avery Dennison fortune, deployed exclusively within Los Angeles County through a model that blends traditional endowment management with deep local philanthropic engagement. The foundation operates across a broad investment strategy that includes venture capital, buyouts, growth equity, fund-of-funds, and secondaries. While the firm does not publicly disclose specific portfolio holdings, its approach involves co-investments and commitments across asset classes, deploying capital to meet the obligations of its grantmaking programs. The geographic mandate is concentrated in Los Angeles, with investment partnerships extending nationally within the United States to support the endowment. Governance remains family-driven, with Trustees including Theodore Avery, Halina Avery, and former Chair Judith Avery. The foundation's operational leadership sits with CEO Maria Cabildo. In May 2024, the foundation continued its established pattern of promoting dialogue around its grantmaking philosophy under the leadership of Carrie Avery, a recognized voice in the trust-based philanthropy movement who previously chaired the National Center for Family Philanthropy. Adjacent family philanthropic vehicles include the Baytree Fund and the Under the Sun Foundation, which was founded by Halina Avery. The foundation's structure is distinguished by its integration of an institutional investment portfolio with a grantmaking philosophy that rejects restrictive reporting requirements. This dual posture — a rigorous, multi-asset endowment strategy coupled with a commitment to unrestricted, relationship-based grantmaking — reflects a governance model uncommon in family foundations, where the Avery family's direct involvement continues to shape both investment decisions and philanthropic mission.

## Sectors

- Community Development

## People

- Carrie Avery — President and Board Chair
- Maria Cabildo — CEO/Executive Director
- Theodore Avery — Vice President and Trustee
- Halina Avery — Trustee
- Judith Avery — Former Chair

## Questions

### Where does the Durfee Foundation's wealth come from?

The foundation's original endowment was created from the personal wealth of Dorothy Durfee Avery and R. Stanton Avery. R. Stanton Avery was the inventor of the self-adhesive label and the co-founder of Avery Dennison Corporation, a Fortune 500 materials science and manufacturing company. The foundation remains financially linked to the family's legacy in the company.

### How does the grantmaking model at the Durfee Foundation differ from other family foundations?

The Durfee Foundation is a leading voice in the trust-based philanthropy movement, which emphasizes unrestricted grants, simplified reporting, and mutual relationships with grantees. Carrie Avery served as Board Chair of the National Center for Family Philanthropy and the foundation is a founding partner of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. The foundation directs all of its grantmaking to organizations based in Los Angeles County.

### Does the Durfee Foundation invest directly in companies or only through funds?

The foundation's investment strategy includes direct co-investments, buyout, venture capital, growth equity, and secondaries, alongside traditional fund-of-funds commitments. This hybrid approach allows it to access both fund-level diversification and direct deal flow, though the foundation does not publicly disclose its specific portfolio companies or fund managers.

### What is the relationship between the Durfee Foundation and the Under the Sun Foundation?

The Under the Sun Foundation is a separate philanthropic vehicle founded by Halina Avery, a Trustee of the Durfee Foundation. Both organizations operate with overlapping family governance, as Halina Avery is a granddaughter of the original founders, R. Stanton and Dorothy Durfee Avery. The Durfee Foundation's other known affiliated vehicle is the Baytree Fund.

## Related profiles

- [Cousins Foundation Inc.](https://altss.com/profile/cousins-foundation-inc)
- [Fashion Institute of Technology Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/fashion-institute-of-technology)

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

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/durfee-foundation

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