In 2001, Walter and Leonore Annenberg established The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands to “address serious issues facing the nation and the world community.” They envisioned Sunnylands as a place where intimate and solution-driven meetings could take place as they had while the couple were alive.

Today, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is an independent 501(C)(3) nonprofit operating entity governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees composed of the children and grandchildren of Leonore and Walter Annenberg.

The Annenbergs understood the magic of the environment they created in the California desert. They believed that Sunnylands could forever serve as a place where presidents and premiers, experts and scientists, generals and CEOs—all leaders, all perspectives—could meet in a neutral location, surrounded by natural beauty, to share ideas and find common ground on the tough issues facing the world today.

Sunnylands is charged by its Declaration of Trust to bring together leaders and experts from around the globe to find meaningful solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and the world. Toward this goal, Sunnylands’ Board of Trustees has approved a three-year strategy to convene or co-convene high-level retreats in three important areas.