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. Fulfilling a Legacy 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 $1.4 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 nearly 90 years. Our Work The Endowment has awarded nearly $3.6 billion in grants since its inception, including over $1.5 billion to Duke University. With assets of $3.35 billion in 2015, the Endowment is one of the nation's largest 501(c)(3) private foundations. Today, almost 82 percent of our total spending goes to grantmaking. Financial information is available on our web site or by contacting us.