About Duke University
Duke University's grantmaking blends large biomedical research investments with targeted, sustained support for neighborhood-level social services and community development in Durham. The foundation funds top-tier research partners (hospitals and universities) while also making repeated, mid-sized grants to local nonprofits addressing housing stability, workforce pathways, food access, and recovery services. There is a clear dual emphasis on advancing clinical/academic research and strengthening Durham’s civic infrastructure and human services safety net.
Focus Areas
Biomedical and pediatric neuro-oncology and cancer research partnerships with academic medical centersNeighborhood stabilization and affordable housing in Durham (community land trusts, Habitat for Humanity, city partnerships)Workforce development and recovery-to-work programs in Durham (TROSA, Durham Tech, Emily K Center)Basic needs and food security initiatives (Farmer Foodshare, urban ministries, COVID relief)Technology access and K–12/college readiness supports (Kramden Institute, public library projects)
Who They Fund
local communities/community-based organizations
About Duke University
Duke University’s grantmaking shows a repeated split between biomedical research and Durham-based community support. At the top end, it has made matching research gifts of $621,013 in both 2024 and 2025 to Pacific Pediatric Neuro Oncology in San Rafael for pediatric neuro-oncology work, alongside similar research support to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Stanford University. Those grants sit beside a second, equally visible pattern: sustained funding for Durham organizations that work on housing stability, workforce pathways, food access, and recovery services. That local side of the portfolio includes support for Durham Technical Community College, Trosa, Durham Community Land Trustees, Emily Krzyzewski Family Life Center, Kramden Institute, Farmer Foodshare, Habitat for Humanity of Durham, Reinvestment Partners, El Futuro, and Urban Ministries of Durham. The mix suggests a funder that uses larger research gifts for academic and clinical partners while also funding neighborhood-level organizations that serve students, families, and people facing basic-needs gaps. The grants are mostly regional and heavily concentrated in North Carolina recipients, but the pattern of giving extends beyond Durham when Duke University funds research institutions in California, Massachusetts, and New York.
What Duke University Funds
Biomedical research is one of Duke University’s clearest funding themes. It gave $621,013 to Pacific Pediatric Neuro Oncology in 2024 and again in 2025 as a research gift, and also supported Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Stanford University with research gifts in the same general range. A second theme is Durham community infrastructure. The foundation awarded $262,500 to Durham Community Land Trustees for COVID impact/community support and $162,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Durham for community support, sponsorship, and COVID relief. It also backed Reinvestment Partners with a $250,000 COVID relief grant. Workforce and student pathways appear in grants such as $579,488 to Durham Technical Community College for general support and $155,310 to Trosa for general support. Basic-needs and access work show up in support for Farmer Foodshare, Urban Ministries of Durham, and Kramden Institute.
How Duke University Gives
Typical grants are in the low five figures, with p25 at $7,582, a median of $10,994, and p75 at $25,534. The distribution includes a smaller set of six-figure awards, especially research gifts and multi-year support for local organizations. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Pacific Pediatric Neuro Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Stanford University, Emily Krzyzewski Family Life Center, and Trosa. The foundation is a university funder rather than an operating or DAF structure, and the grant record includes program-specific support as well as research gifts, general support, sponsorships, and work-study support. Active campus programs such as DuWell accept unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$4.3M
Total Assets
$22.1B
Total Revenue
$4.8B
Total Expenses
$4.4B
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $26K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$26K
Geographic Reach
Regional20 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
VINCENT E PRICE
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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