Durham Congregations in Action
Durham Congregations in Action (DCIA) is a public charity based in Durham, North Carolina. It organizes communities of diverse faiths to work on racial justice, social equity, and human dignity, and it manages grant programs supporting food, shelter, and other community needs in Durham.
Durham Congregations in Action at a glance
In short: Durham Congregations in Action gave $49K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $49,000
- +34.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- -86.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,250
- +911.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $11,250
- Total assets
- $129,797
- -18.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Durham Congregations in Action
- Contact
Mailing address: 504 W Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
Website: https://dcia.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Durham Congregations in Action funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was NC Poor Peoples Campaign ($20K). Together the top 4 received $49K.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 74 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
DCIA is based in Durham, North Carolina. Its website describes its grant programs as serving Durham County and Durham-area food security efforts. The listed 2023 grantees include organizations in Durham and one organization based in Elkhart, Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Durham Congregations in Action gives
- Giving fell 76% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $36K (2023) to $458K (2022). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $49K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NC Poor Peoples Campaign Durham, NC | — | $20,000 |
| Urban Ministries of Durham Durham, NC | Food Security Grant | $15,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Durham, NC | Food Security Grant | $7,500 |
| Believers United for Progress Durham, NC | Food Security Grant | $6,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $129,797 | $208,387 | $239,478 | $49,000 | 4 | $2,133 |
| 2023 | $158,926 | $207,486 | $179,637 | $36,348 | 30 | $2,927 |
| 2022 | $142,095 | $573,088 | $554,883 | $457,857 | 35 | $845 |
| 2021 | $112,931 | $499,744 | $453,426 | $201,313 | 3 | $173 |
| 2020 | $66,551 | $534,502 | $507,473 | $130,801 | 2 | $270 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
DCIA’s stated mission is to organize communities of diverse faiths to work for racial justice, social equity, and human dignity. Its website says it leads interfaith learning and cooperation to address poverty, racism, and violence.
DCIA manages Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds for Durham County through the United Way, supporting local nonprofits’ work in areas including homeless shelters, food pantries, and rental assistance. It also manages the Durham County Food Security Microgrant, which supports food pantry and food security efforts at a smaller scale, with grants of up to $5,000. DCIA says it manages other grants and funds on occasion.
Among organizations reported as grantees in 2023, Urban Ministries of Durham describes its work as providing case management, emergency shelter, meals, groceries, clothing, referrals, and other services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Open Table Ministry describes its work as building relationships with people experiencing homelessness and poverty and connecting them with practical support and community resources. StepUp Durham says it partners with adults through life and employment skills training; Student U describes its work with first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators; Threshold says it serves adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Durham County. Church World Service describes its work as responding to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster around the globe.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data reports that DCIA made 30 grants totaling $36,348 in 2023, an average of about $1,212 per grant. The filing reports 35 grants totaling $457,857 in 2022. It reports no grants in 2024. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 4 grants totaling $49,000.
Examples of 2023 grantees include Urban Ministries of Durham, Open Table Ministry, Church World Service, StepUp Durham, Student U, and Threshold; each received $1,066. DCIA’s website describes its microgrant program as providing up to $5,000 for food pantry and food security efforts. A listed microgrant deadline of December 12, 2025, was a past deadline as of September 28, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Breana Van Velzen as Executive Director; Dr Hope Hartman as President; Rev Tanya Best as Vice President; Bob Newlin as Treasurer; and Dennis Cullen as Secretary. It also lists Larry Brown, Chaplain Priya Amaresh, Rev Dr Warren Herndon, Katushka Olave, and Rev Tobi Nguyen as directors.
Durham Congregations in Action is led by Breana Van Velzen, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 15 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Breana Van Velzen
Executive Director
Current Executive → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $50K (2024)
Hope Hartman
President
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gordon Whitaker
Director
President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katushka Olave
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Warren Herndon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rashad Rahman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Griffin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jo Wall
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melinda Keenan Wood
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chaplain Priya Amaresh
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tobi Nguyen
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Newlin
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Cullen
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Best
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Donna Banks (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Michael Page (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Deborah Cayer (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Iman Abdul Waheed (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Spencer Bradford (2020–2021) — Executive Di
- Former: Chi Vo (2021) — Director
- Former: Robert Rutledge (2021) — Director
- Former: Egar Vergara (2020) — Director
- Former: Joe Harvard (2020) — Director
- Former: Lanella Smith (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $50K, to Breana Van Velzen (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about Durham Congregations in Action
How much does Durham Congregations in Action give each year?
Durham Congregations in Action gave $49K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $36K across 30 grants.
What is Durham Congregations in Action's typical grant size?
Durham Congregations in Action's median grant in 2024 was $11,250, and its average grant was $12,250, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Durham Congregations in Action give grants?
Durham Congregations in Action gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (4 grants).
Does Durham Congregations in Action give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Durham Congregations in Action's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Food Security Grant" (3 grants).
How large is Durham Congregations in Action?
Durham Congregations in Action reported $130K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $208K.
What does Durham Congregations in Action fund?
DCIA’s stated mission is to organize communities of diverse faiths to work for racial justice, social equity, and human dignity. Its website says it leads interfaith learning and cooperation to address poverty, racism, and violence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Durham Congregations in Action?
Durham Congregations in Action has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check dcia.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Durham Congregations in Action's EIN?
Durham Congregations in Action's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7208424. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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