September 9, 2024 (Los Angeles, CA) — The Durfee Foundation Board of Trustees is excited to announce the appointment of Maria Cabildo as the Foundation’s new CEO. Maria’s appointment marks the end of an inclusive search process that spanned many months and involved the consideration of over 350 remarkable applicants. Maria will begin in the position starting January 1, 2025.
A lifelong Los Angeleno from East LA and a Durfee community member, Maria has dedicated her career to advancing equity for historically disadvantaged communities and making Los Angeles a city where everyone can thrive. Maria is widely known for her long-time service as CEO of East LA Community Corporation, an anchor community development organization she co-founded. Since then, she has served in leadership positions supporting the First District of the LA County Board of Supervisors, the Community Development Commission, Catalyst California, and the California Community Foundation. In all, Maria brings to the Durfee Foundation a deep knowledge of the work of non-profit organizations operating in partnership with philanthropy and government to forward projects and programs that set innovative paths to addressing community need. Maria’s leadership and vision have been a longstanding resource and beacon throughout the Los Angeles community. Maria also shares Durfee’s deeply held beliefs in the power of creativity, risk-taking, equity, investing in leadership, and learning to create new possibilities.
“We are elated to have Maria step into this role,” shared Theo Avery, Durfee Board and Transition Committee Chair. “I’m not sure where to start or how to stop: Maria is brilliant, empathic, a profound communicator, and perhaps an even more profound listener. She’s pioneered a life and career that demonstrates immense courage, vision, and commitment to Los Angeles and Durfee’s dearest values. She has an outstanding history of leadership that spans the non-profit, government, and philanthropic sectors. And as if it all weren’t enough, she’s simply a joy to be around.”
Theo continued, “after hearing from our community members during brainstorming sessions for our search, it became clear to us that it would be important to find a new leader who could not only imagine and build Durfee’s future but who could also steward the core of what had already been built at Durfee. Above all else, there’s a bond of trust between the Foundation and a thriving community of incredible leaders who look to Durfee to provide responsive and thoughtful grant-making, convening, and connection-building and who in turn bring Durfee alive through their wholehearted participation and support. Maria is exceptionally well-positioned to maintain that bond. She’s an active, long-standing member of Durfee’s network. She’s a former Sabbatical and Stanton awardee, and she served as a mentor to young organizations in Durfee’s Springboard program. She understands Durfee very well, and she’s eager to uphold the interests of all of its community members. The rhythm always changes with new leadership, but I’m confident that with Maria keeping the beat for us, we’ll all discover new steps and dance on together.”
Maria stated, “It’s an honor to be trusted and selected by the board of trustees to lead the Durfee Foundation as we continue the legacy, vision, and values of our founders, Stan and Dorothy Avery. The Durfee Foundation is an essential part of Los Angeles County’s leadership landscape. Through its persistent and low-key support of LA’s exceptional leaders and thinkers, it has impacted the lives of thousands of LA County residents. It brings me joy to be part of the Durfee community. I look forward to working with the trustees, our fellows and grantees, and our partners to strengthen the nonprofit sector through our support of leaders.”
The Board would like to express special thanks to several groups and individuals in reaching this point:
Durfee’s community members and all applicants for their extraordinary support and patience as we found our way through the search process—we remain honored and inspired by the interest we received.
The community members of Durfee’s Transition Committee, who provided irreplaceable insight and spirit for the search: John Maceri (CEO, The People Concern), Tammy Membreno (CEO, Barrio Action); Christine Mirasy-Glasco (CEO, Upward Bound House); and Debra Suh (former ED, Center for the Pacific Asian Family).
Durfee’s essential and most capable consultants: search consultant Jeannine Walker of Walker & Associates Consulting and transition consultant Lisa Watson of Watson Consulting Group.
Durfee’s staff—Stella Chung, Yvonne Macias, and Elmer Vivas Portillo—for all of their superb assistance throughout the entire search process.
Durfee’s immediate past President Carrie Avery, whose board leadership was pivotal to articulating the Foundation’s mission and values. She put so much into setting up the Foundation for a successful transition and provided endless encouragement and support to Theo Avery in his new role as Board Chair.
And finally, no word on Durfee’s leadership change could ever be complete without a profuse thanks to our beloved departing longtime leader Claire Peeps, who brought us nearly 30 roaring years of delight and who has shown unmatched enthusiasm for Durfee’s transition every step of the way.
Whoohoo! Welcome, Maria!!