The Duke Endowment

www.dukeendowment.org

Description

Enriching Lives and Communities

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.

Fulfilling a Legacy

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 underscores the legacy that is the foundation and guiding force of The Duke Endowment. The logo reflects the singular achievements of James B. Duke, and the accomplishments of the Endowment he established.

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 more than $1.1 billion today.

Governed by a board of trustees, Endowment staff conduct grantmaking according to guidelines in Mr. Duke's original Indenture of Trust, a legal document that remains relevant and timely after more than 80 years.

Our Work

The Endowment has awarded $2.6 billion in grants since its inception, including more than $1 billion to Duke University. With assets of $2.2 billion, the Endowment is one of the nation's largest private foundations. Today, more than 88 percent of our total spending goes to grantmaking.

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 reports, publications and evaluations. We also operate a fellowship program to cultivate emerging leaders in philanthropy.

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