The Duke Endowment
Accepts applications
The Duke Endowment is a private foundation in Charlotte, North Carolina. In tax year 2024 it gave $251 million in 480 grants; the typical grant was $200,000 and the largest $6.8 million. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$251 million
- Number of grants480
- Typical grant$200,000
- Largest grant$6.8 million
- Assets$5.0 billion
- New grantees43%
Giving in 2024 was up from $222 million the year before.
43% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $222 million | 365 | $4.9 billion |
| 2024 | $251 million | 480 | $5.0 billion |
How to apply
| Contact | Mr Rhett N Mabry President 800 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28202-4012 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (704) 376-0291 |
| What to submit | No specific forms are required for letters of inquiry. Forms for formal applications are available on the endowment's website. There are no submission deadlines. The following information may be helpful to potential grantees: eligible requests will be referred to an appropriate program officer in our education, health care, child care, or rural church program areas. The program officer may request a full proposal, including project description, budget, funding sources, board members, and other pertinent information. If a meeting is desirable, the program officer will arrange this, as well as site visits or other conferences. If the proposal is eligible and complete, the program officer will take it to a committee of the trustees. The trustees of the duke endowment maintain committees for each of the four program areas. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Duke Endowment funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 14 states, the most to North Carolina.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 329 | $192 million |
| South Carolina | 120 | $48.3 million |
| New York | 11 | $6.9 million |
| Massachusetts | 3 | $1.9 million |
| Illinois | 2 | $392,000 |
| New Jersey | 2 | $391,200 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | $275,000 |
| Georgia | 3 | $232,000 |
| California | 2 | $163,775 |
| Texas | 1 | $150,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University | To commemorate the duke endowment's and duke university's shared centennial (expendable). | $6.8 million |
| Duke University Health System | To continue to strengthen dukes capacity and reputation in the sciences by recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty for the university health system. | $6.8 million |
| Duke University | To continue to strengthen dukes capacity and reputation in the sciences by recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty for the university. | $6.8 million |
| Community Foundation of Western North Carolina | To provide immediate relief in western north carolina in the aftermath of hurricane helene. | $5.0 million |
| Davidson College | To commemorate the duke endowments centennial and expand student access and experiential learning. | $5.0 million |
| Duke University | To commemorate the duke endowment's and duke university's shared centennial (capital). | $5.0 million |
| Johnson C Smith University | To commemorate the duke endowments centennial, support for implementing the new strategic plan in coordination with the charlotte mayors racial equity campaign. | $5.0 million |
| Furman University | To continue to support strengthening and expanding the furman advantage. | $4.3 million |
| Duke University | To endow a full professorship in the office of black church studies at duke divinity school. | $3.5 million |
| Davidson College | To support the renovation of the e.h. Little library. | $3.0 million |
| Davidson College | To support the renovation of the e.h. Little library. | $3.0 million |
| Duke University | To commemorate the duke endowment's and duke university's shared centennial (endowed). | $3.0 million |
| Furman University | To continue to support strengthening and expanding the furman advantage. | $3.0 million |
| Furman University | To continue to support strengthening and expanding the furman advantage. | $2.9 million |
| Get Ready Guilford | To build an early childhood system of care and sustain evidence-based programs in guilford county, nc. | $2.6 million |
| Central Carolina Community Foundation | To provide immediate relief in south carolina in the aftermath of hurricane helene. | $2.5 million |
| Get Ready Guilford | To build an early childhood system of care and sustain evidence-based programs in guilford county, nc. | $2.4 million |
| Get Ready Guilford | To build an early childhood system of care and sustain evidence-based programs in guilford county, nc. | $2.4 million |
| Childrens Trust of South Carolina | To continue intermediary support for the strengthening families program implementation in south carolina. | $2.4 million |
| Furman University | To commemorate the duke endowments centennial, unrestricted operating support due to financial hardship. | $2.4 million |
| Duke University | To develop a signature, university-wide initiative to that helps students and faculty gain greater understanding of purpose, character and vocation. | $2.4 million |
| Duke University | To support flexible funds for strategic initiatives of three senior administrative leaders. | $2.4 million |
| Get Ready Guilford | To support the 2024 ready ready backbone operations. | $2.0 million |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc | To satisfy anticipated blue meridian capital calls through 2026 for existing investments and any new investments supporting high-performing non-profits. | $2.0 million |
| Duke University Health System | To continue to strengthen dukes capacity and reputation in the sciences by recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty for the university health system. | $2.0 million |
| Duke University | To support the renovation of lilly library. | $2.0 million |
| Duke University | To support the renovation of lilly library. | $2.0 million |
| Duke University | To continue to strengthen dukes capacity and reputation in the sciences by recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty for the university. | $2.0 million |
| Duke University | To support duke law schools scholarships and public interest assistance challenge. | $2.0 million |
| Duke University | To support duke law schools scholarships and public interest assistance challenge. | $2.0 million |
| Duke University | To support graduate student fellowships. | $2.0 million |
| Feeding the Carolinas | To provide immediate relief to western north carolina and south carolina in the aftermath of hurricane helene. | $2.0 million |
| Furman University | To provide operating support. | $2.0 million |
| Johnson C Smith University | To support the new strategic plan implementation in coordination with the charlotte mayors racial equity campaign. | $2.0 million |
| Get Ready Guilford | To build an early childhood system of care and sustain evidence-based programs in guilford county, nc. | $2.0 million |
| MDRC | To evaluate the work of ready for school, ready for life in 2024 | $1.9 million |
| Johnson C Smith University | To provide compensation support to help retain faculty and staff. | $1.7 million |
| North Carolina Healthcare Foundation | To establish the carolinas health innovation institute. | $1.7 million |
| North Carolina Healthcare Foundation | To establish the carolinas health innovation institute. | $1.7 million |
| Davidson College | To strengthen the james b. Duke scholarship program (endowed). | $1.7 million |
Officers and trustees
- William Barnet III
- Dennis M Campbell
- John Fav Cecil
- Ravenel B Curry III
- Pamela Davies
- Harris E Deloach Jr
- Allyson K Duncan
- Constance F Gray
- J Trent Jones
- Charles C Lucas III
- Clarence G Newsome
- Minor M Shaw
- Jean G Spaulding
- Kenneth D Weeks Jr
- Judy Woodruff
Questions people ask
Does The Duke Endowment accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications.
How much does The Duke Endowment give?
$251 million in tax year 2024, across 480 grants, with a typical grant of $200,000.
Who runs The Duke Endowment?
Its 2024 filing lists William Barnet III (Trustee), Dennis M Campbell (Trustee/Vice-Chair), John Fav Cecil (Trustee) and Ravenel B Curry III (Trustee) among 15 officers and trustees.
What does The Duke Endowment fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, health and human services.