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Community Benefits and Support

Duke Health works every day to address community needs, from enhancing the understanding of the health care system and how benefits patients, to increasing access to resources. Our team provides thousands of dollars each year to improve the health of those in need.

You can view Duke Health’s annual community benefit contributions in our annual report.

Community Needs Assessment

In addition to a shared institutional effort to support our communities, Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital also create individual reports that detail how they care for patients and the community.

Building Healthy Communities Grants

Our commitment to advance health and well-being of all includes the support of community-based organizations and initiatives. Led by a funding committee of leaders from across the Health System, our grants can be used for at least one of these focus areas:

  • Education 
    • Early Childhood
    • K-12
    • Higher Education
  • Economic Stability
    • Employment and Career Readiness
    • Financial Repair and Remediation
    • Food Insecurity
    • Poverty
  • Neighborhood and Built Environment
    • Affordable Housing
    • Housing Repair and Remediation
    • Transportation
    • Neighborhood Infrastructure
    • Homelessness
  • Healthcare Access and Quality
    • Healthcare Coverage
    • Mental Health
    • Health Equity
    • Provider and Pharmacy Availability
    • Quality of Care
    • Community Health Improvement
  • Social and Community Context
    • Racial and Social Justice
    • Youth
    • Culture and Arts
    • Faith-based Initiative
    • Violence Prevention

We provide two kinds of grants for organizations who are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code:

  • Level I Grants: Applicants can apply for up to $15,000. Applications are reviewed quarterly. Q1 ( July 1 - Sept. 30) Deadline is Sept. 30.  Q2 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) Deadline is Dec. 31.  Q3 ( Jan. 1-Mar. 31) Deadline is Mar. 31. Q4 (Apr. 1-May 15) Deadline is May 15. For more information, see these details.
  • Level II Grants: Applicants can apply for more than $15,000. These grants are reviewed twice a year; once in the spring and once in the fall. Spring Round (Dec. 1-April 31) Deadline is April 31. Fall Round. (July 1-Nov. 30) Deadline is Nov. 30. Review of applications take place during May and November only. For more information, see these details.

You can apply for either of these grants using our application form. Once you click on the link it will ask you to register your organization.  Please save your password to re-enter your current application or to apply for future grant requests. Thank you for your interest in the Building Healthy Communities Grants. For additional information, contact Darla Wohlfarth at 919-684-5435 or darla.wohlfarth@duke.edu.

Duke Health Building Healthy Communities Level II Grants Funding Committee

Our diverse group of leaders from across Duke Health administer grants each year. It's led by chair, Debra Clark Jones, Associate Vice President of Community Health. Members include:

  • Jill Engel, Associate Vice President, Duke Heart Services
  • Robin Famiglietti, Associate Dean, Duke Cancer Institute
  • Laura Huffman, Chief of Staff, Duke University Hospital
  • Catherine Liao, Associate Vice President, Government Relations, Duke University Health System
  • Camille Grant Valentine, Administrative Director, Duke Raleigh Hospital
  • Eleanor Stevenson, Interim Vice Dean for Global and Community Health Affairs, Duke University School of Nursing
  • Lisa Varani, Associate Dean of Planning and Chief of Staff, Duke University School of Medicine