About The Duke Endowment
Since 1924, The Duke Endowment has worked to help people and strengthen communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits.
Located in Charlotte, N.C., the Endowment seeks to fulfill the visionary genius and innovative legacy of James Buchanan Duke, one of the great industrialists and philanthropists of the 20th century. Mr. Duke established the Endowment in 1924 with $40 million. In 1925, it was expanded with an additional $67 million from his estate. Adjusted for present value, Mr. Duke’s total gifts would amount to almost $1.9 billion today.
It was by the stroke of his pen that James B. Duke created The Duke Endowment, and the integration of his signature as a graphic element in our logo underscores the legacy that is the foundation and guiding force of The Duke Endowment.
Governed by a board of trustees, Endowment staff conduct grantmaking according to guidelines in Mr. Duke’s original Indenture of Trust (pdf), a legal document that remains relevant and timely after more than 100 years. In November 2011, Trustees approved six Guiding Principles for our work.
Our Compass: Who We Are and What Guides Us
Committed to the Carolinas: Reflections on a Century
To mark the 100th anniversary of our commitment to the Carolinas, The Duke Endowment connected with many grantee partners from across our history to hear and tell stories about the impact of Mr. Duke’s legacy. Some of the stories were personal; the whole experience was profound. In this 2023 Annual Report, we’ve spotlighted some of those grantees, who tell their stories — in their own voices.
The Duke Endowment’s Indenture of Trust
100 Years of History & Legacy
Our Work
The Endowment has awarded approximately $5 billion in grants since its inception, including over $1.9 billion to Duke University. With assets of $4.9 billion in 2023, the Endowment is one of the nation’s largest 501(c)(3) private foundations.
In addition to grantmaking work in four program areas, the Endowment shares its knowledge by publishing resources for grantees and other service organizations, including information about what we’re learning from our work in various publications, reports and evaluations.