COMMITTED TO
THE CAROLINAS

Marking a Century of Giving

Commemorating our first century and looking ahead to the next, we intend to invest up to $5 billion over the next 15 years as we advance opportunities, accelerate progress, enrich lives and strengthen communities.

Visit Our Centennial Site Read the Press Release

The Duke Endowment seeks to enrich lives and communities across North Carolina and South Carolina by supporting grantees as they nurture children, promote health, educate minds and uplift spirits. 

Child family well being

Child & Family Well-Being

All children deserve to grow up safe from maltreatment, supported by nurturing families and caring adults. The Duke Endowment is dedicated to enabling children in the Carolinas to live successful lives.

Health care

Health Care

The Duke Endowment believes that all people can achieve their best health when communities are designed to support healthy lifestyles and when our health care system is able to engage patients and provide holistic care that meets the unique needs of each individual.

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Higher Education

The Duke Endowment supports the four institutions named in Mr. Duke’s Indenture of Trust: Davidson College, Duke University, Furman University and Johnson C. Smith University.

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Rural Church

We are committed to preserving the pivotal role churches play in rural communities. The Duke Endowment supports clergy and congregations — ensuring they have the tools they need to walk faithfully together — as they strengthen rural areas.

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Additional Focus

Through other Endowment initiatives, and particularly our strategic emphasis on early childhood, we respond to today’s needs and intervene early to keep tomorrow’s problems from taking root.

2024 Annual Report: NEXT

In 2024, The Duke Endowment celebrated 100 years of philanthropic work. We traveled to communities across the Carolinas, seeking to deepen ties with our grantees and celebrate their achievements as we reflected on our work together. Now, we look ahead to our second century of service. In our 2024 Annual Report, our grantees survey the challenges and opportunities to come. 

Read Our 2024 Annual Report

Read Our New Newsletter

As we look ahead to our next century, we have refreshed our newsletter to better showcase the good work of our grantees and to share what we’re learning, what’s inspiring us and the promising programs and initiatives we support.

Read Our Newsletter

Latest News & Stories

Get the latest from the Endowment and read more about the impact of the work being done by our grantees and individuals in the field

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Healing at Home — Intensive Alternative Family Treatment (IAFT®)

The IAFT program is stabilizing foster youth and their families through trauma-informed, home-based care.

August 11, 2025

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From Empty to Essential: Repurposing Church Property to Build Community

Repurposing a closed church allowed the creation of Lydia’s Place, an independent nonprofit transitional shelter for women and children.

August 11, 2025

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Meet North Carolina’s Chief Scientist

David Yokum helps North Carolina state agencies use evidence to figure out what’s working, what’s not and what’s worth funding.

August 11, 2025

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Building the Family Team – How Success Coaches Improve Family Permanency Across N.C.

The Success Coach model is helping children and families stay together after they leave the foster care system.

August 6, 2025

News / Story Summer Literacy Story 2025

Church-based Literacy Camps are Filling a Gap in Summer Learning

How church-based literacy camps are filling a gap in summer learning for rural students statewide.

July 23, 2025 | Kristen Richardson-Frick, Mebane Rash and Hannah Vinueza McClellan

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Ellie Smith Promoted to Program Officer at The Duke Endowment

The Duke Endowment is pleased to announce that Ellie Smith has been promoted to Program Officer with its Health Care grantmaking team.

July 16, 2025

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