Q: Tell us about the new Avery Dennison Foundation vision and mission. 

The Foundation’s new vision is to create a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable global community where people and the planet thrive. We enact this through our new mission by supporting communities globally to address inequities through improved education access, environmental sustainability and secure livelihoods. We also have a new approach to giving that will allow us to act both more broadly and have a deeper impact.

Q: What sparked the change?

As our company grows, so does our responsibility to our communities. The world has experienced many shocks over the past several years with the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and wars that led to so many humanitarian crises and highlighted inequity globally. Throughout all of these, both the Foundation and the company supported local nonprofit organizations or NGOs to assist and provide relief. But we wanted to take a step back and reflect on how we could do more in the current global context and address some of the biggest challenges facing our communities in a more proactive way.

Q: The Foundation’s new focus is education access, environmental sustainability, and secure livelihoods. How were these areas selected?

When we looked at what’s happening in the world today, it was these areas that really stood out from a few different perspectives. First, they are some of the foundational elements for a community to be able to build and grow for a better tomorrow. Second, these are areas that are disproportionately affecting underserved communities, which is compounding their challenges. And finally, these areas represent an evolution of what we have historically supported and that are meaningful to our company and our employees — and we wanted to maintain that connection.

Q: What is the new approach to giving and how does it support the Foundation’s vision and mission?

We want to have a deeper philanthropic impact in the work we do, and it starts with a new holistic approach. To determine who we work with, we are prioritizing greatest need and expanding the geographies we support, while also looking at how organizations incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles in both their internal and community practices. Then there’s how we work with organizations. We will build better and longer-term relationships which will depend on cultivating trust and open communication.

Q: What's next?

The Avery Dennison Foundation and its Board of Trustees are excited to reopen our grantmaking process to nonprofit organizations and NGOs around the world who are doing work aligned to the three new giving areas. We will be reviewing applications and making funding decisions on a quarterly basis. We’re looking forward to sharing new stories throughout the year about our role as a force for good through new partnerships and grantmaking in our communities.