Duke Farms

Spanning 2,700 acres of meadows, woodlands, and wetlands in Hillsborough, New Jersey, it serves as a living model of the Doris Duke Foundation’s mission. Once the private estate of James Buchanan Duke and later Doris Duke, the property has been reimagined as a national center for nature restoration, climate solutions and mission-aligned events—where the land itself becomes a partner in advancing bold ideas.

Gatherings at Duke Farms are designed for impact. Partners define the vision, lead the agenda, and bring their communities together. Our role is to support that work through strategic guidance, curated experiences, and alignment with the Foundation’s broader initiatives in climate, health, and the arts. Whether you’re producing a field-defining summit or co-hosting a community-rooted retreat, Duke Farms offers an adaptable and mission-forward platform for changemakers.

What sets Duke Farms apart is its infrastructure, both physical and philosophical. LEED Platinum-certified spaces, solar-powered systems, bike trails, and restored native habitats are not just amenities—they’re expressions of the values that ground each gathering. Programs are informed by active restoration and sustainability work. And every convening is enriched by the opportunity to engage directly with the land.

Here, the intellectual becomes experiential. A board meeting turns transformative when followed by a walk through pollinator meadows. A roundtable on climate justice gains new urgency when it unfolds in view of a restored floodplain forest. At Duke Farms, strategy and setting reinforce one another, creating the clarity, connection, and momentum that define truly effective convenings.

Whether you are organizing an intimate convening, or hosting a larger format event at Duke Farms, you are accessing a uniquely positioned space—just over an hour from New York City and Philadelphia—where regional accessibility meets national reach. It is a rare venue that supports both local innovation and systems-level change, enabling participants to build relationships, test ideas, and accelerate impact.

At a time when the scale of our challenges demands bold, integrated solutions, Duke Farms offers more than a beautiful place to meet. It offers a living lab framework for action—where convenings become catalysts, and conversations become commitments.