The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation is a private foundation based in Durham, North Carolina. It supports arts nonprofits and PreK-12 education organizations in North Carolina’s Triangle region, as well as Duke University and other institutions of importance to Mary Duke Biddle’s family.
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation gave $1.5M across 51 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), mostly in North Carolina. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,499,995
- -5.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 51
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $29,412
- +3.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $43,028,444
- +5.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (16 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact the executive director; application forms and materials are provided upon request.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists no deadline. Program materials list February for multiyear grants and September for one-year grants; both 2026 cycles have passed.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Executive Director
Mailing address: Missionpost Pmb 101 318 Blackwell, Street Suite 130, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 493-5591
Website: https://marydukebiddlefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
Arts Education: Multiyear Grant
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
Amount
US $15,000 - US $50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Arts Education: One-year Grant
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
PreK-12 Education Grant
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Duke University Trinity College of Arts & Sciences ($275K). Together the top 10 received $905K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($70,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
335 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 306 grants of 335 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s program materials specify that its PreK-12 grants are for organizations located in and serving students in Chatham, Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties in North Carolina. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina; the filing also reports grants to recipients in Tennessee and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 50 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $1.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 51 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duke University Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Durham, NC | Supporting the Arts at Duke | $275,000 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Duke and Community Affairs Tutoring Partnerships in Durham | $119,995 |
| Duke University- Nasher Museum of Art Durham, NC | Nasher museum of art: education, internship, exhibitions and permanent collection support | $115,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $70,000 |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation Winston-Salem, NC | Historical Grant | $70,000 |
| American Dance Festival Durham, NC | 2024 Historical Relationship | $50,000 |
| Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Asheville, NC | Hurricane Helene Relief | $50,000 |
| Duke University Health System - Arts & Health Durham, NC | The artist in residence program provides live music for patients at the bedside, and in public spaces, at duke university hospital. | $50,000 |
| Durham Symphony Orchestra Durham, NC | 2024 Arts Grant | $50,000 |
| Walltown Children's Theater Durham, NC | Operating Grant | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $43,028,444 | $3,840,733 | $3,211,057 | $1,499,995 | 51 | $1,999,979 | $2,580,669 | $1,964,883 |
| 2023 | $40,889,071 | $1,918,788 | $2,960,771 | $1,591,000 | 56 | $2,167,479 | $1,163,337 | $1,934,687 |
| 2022 | $38,339,116 | $3,094,907 | $2,954,187 | $1,710,495 | 91 | $2,168,396 | $2,395,605 | $2,025,713 |
| 2021 | $45,285,610 | $5,621,835 | $2,374,263 | $1,297,500 | 88 | $1,695,204 | $4,963,737 | $2,028,535 |
| 2020 | $40,086,579 | $3,179,063 | $2,435,915 | $1,450,000 | 49 | — | $2,625,299 | $1,823,533 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its work as carrying out Mary Duke Biddle’s goal of sharing resources to improve people’s lives and respond to evolving community needs. Its program materials describe support for arts organizations and PreK-12 education organizations in the Triangle region. The PreK-12 program addresses inequities affecting student success and access to arts experiences, including through academic support and participatory arts instruction.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The University of North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation says its primary purpose is to support the advancement and achievement of UNCSA students, faculty, and staff. American Dance Festival describes work to support modern dance creation, preserve dance heritage, and build audiences. The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle says it presents classical music concerts and provides free admission to students. Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County describes itself as a bilingual and bicultural community organization serving Latinx immigrants and their families in rural central North Carolina.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 51 grants totaling $1,499,995. Awards ranged from $2,500 to $275,000, with a median grant of $15,000. Among its largest grants were $275,000 to Duke University Trinity College of Arts & Sciences for arts support; $119,995 to Duke University for tutoring partnerships in Durham; and $115,000 to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University for education, internships, exhibitions, and permanent collection support. Other 2024 grants included $70,000 to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation, $50,000 to American Dance Festival, and $40,000 to Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County.
Program materials list multiyear grants for arts education of $15,000–$50,000 and for the arts of $20,000–$50,000. They also describe PreK-12 grants for organizations working in specified Triangle counties. The listed February multiyear and September one-year deadlines are past cycles as of October 2, 2026. The foundation’s 2024 filing says application information is provided upon request and lists no deadline or award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Margaret Mimi O’Brien as executive director. Ben Jones is chair, C. Russell Bryan is vice chair, and Dr. Yomi Adigun is treasurer. Other listed trustees are George Biddle, E’Vonne Coleman-Cook, Dr. Jackie Looney, and Joe Lucas. Lois Deloatch and N. Allison Haltom are listed on the MDBF Allocations Committee.
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation is led by Margaret Mimi O'Brien, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 9 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margaret Mimi O'Brien
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$169K (2020) → $205K (2024)
Ben Jones
Chair
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $2K (2024)
Joe Lucas
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $6K (2024)
George Biddle
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $6K (2024)
Jackie Looney
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$6K (2024)
E'vonne Coleman-Cook
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
C. Russell Bryan
Vice Chair
Secretary → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $6K (2024)
N. Allison Haltom
Mdbf Allocations Committee
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Mdbf Allocations Committee, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Lois Deloatch
Mdbf Allocations Committee
Trustee → Mdbf Allocations Committee, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $4K (2024)
Yomi Adigun
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $6K (2024)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Christopher M. Harris (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: K. Todd Walker (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Benjamin P. Jones (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Josiah Lucas (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Lilliam D. Deloatch (2020) — Trustee
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 $205K, to Margaret Mimi O'Brien (Executive Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
How much does The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation give each year?
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation gave $1.5M across 51 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 56 grants.
What is The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's typical grant size?
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $29,412, across 51 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation give grants?
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (22 grants), Raleigh, NC (8 grants), Siler City, NC (2 grants) and Research Triangle Park, NC (2 grants).
Does The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 43% of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education Grant" (3 grants) and "Arts Education Grant" (3 grants).
Who are The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's largest grantees?
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Duke University Trinity College of Arts & Sciences ($275,000), Duke University ($149,995 across 2 grants) and Duke University- Nasher Museum of Art ($115,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($70,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation?
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation reported $43.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its work as carrying out Mary Duke Biddle’s goal of sharing resources to improve people’s lives and respond to evolving community needs. Its program materials describe support for arts organizations and PreK-12 education organizations in the Triangle region. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation?
Contact the executive director; application forms and materials are provided upon request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's EIN?
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6068883. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mary-duke-biddle-foundation-morg_f4dda9d8a09d4d2eb14a34b5cb75a600
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136068883_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mary-duke-biddle-foundation-morg_f4dda9d8a09d4d2eb14a34b5cb75a600},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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