The Duke Endowment: Health Care Grant

The Duke Endowment: Health Care Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Duke Endowment
Last Updated: January 25, 2026

Summary

The Duke Endowment's Health Care Grant aims to enhance health equity in North and South Carolina. Established in 1924, it supports innovative models addressing health disparities in vulnerable populations, focusing on access to care, maternal and infant health, mental health, oral health, and workforce development. By partnering with local stakeholders, the Endowment strives to reduce barriers to care and promote healthy behaviors, ultimately improving health outcomes for marginalized communities.

Overview

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. Program Area: Health Care The Duke Endowment believes that maintaining health over time is dependent on a person’s ability to lead a healthy lifestyle and access essential health care services. We support reforms that ensure an individual’s basic medical and social needs are met, so they can enjoy the best health possible. Challenge Despite advances in medicine and care delivery, significant health disparities exist based on race, gender, insurance status, income and where someone lives. Affecting and sustaining systemic change requires innovation, evidence building and collaboration between health care providers and other sectors. Approach We work as an innovating partner with local, state and national stakeholders to identify, test and spread innovative models that improve health and promote health equity. We know that the transformations we seek are complicated and will take time. Our Focus We aim to improve the health of Carolinians by exploring how integrated health systems can partner with other stakeholders in their communities, reduce barriers to care and promote healthy behaviors. We want to reduce inequities that have been exacerbated by factors including race, income and where a person lives. Funding Priorities Access to Care for Vulnerable Populations Access to essential health care services is critical to good health, yet vulnerable populations in the Carolinas face a variety of barriers. We are interested in supporting access-expanding projects for underserved populations such as racial minorities and rural residents. Health Care also funds 30 AccessHealth networks (by invitation only) to increase access to essential services for low-income uninsured adults. Maternal and Infant Health Significant health disparities fuel poor maternal and infant health outcomes for women of color and women in rural communities. Health Care will support evidence-based programs and models that prioritize reducing health disparities and improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Mental Health Research has shown that early identification and treatment of mental health conditions can significantly improve overall health and well-being. The Endowment is interested in supporting models of care that increase access to quality mental health services and prevention programs with a specific emphasis on pediatric mental health care. Oral Health Millions of adults and children do not receive essential oral health services each year, leading to poor health outcomes and lower quality of life. To broaden access to care and reduce oral health disparities in children, The Duke Endowment is helping school-based oral health programs (by invitation only) expand, including investments in advocacy and policy reform efforts. Population Health Research suggests environmental factors and personal behaviors carry a far more significant impact on population health outcomes than clinical care. These social determinants of health hold the keys to addressing America’s high rates of obesity and chronic disease. Our Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas initiative uses regional community coalitions to help address these upstream drivers of health. Workforce Development Given the many efforts underway to improve population health and reduce disparities in health outcomes, there is a need for a community-based workforce that serves as a liaison between health care, social services, and the community, including individuals with lived experience, such as community health workers.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligibility for Health Care GrantsIn his Indenture of Trust, our founder restricted Health Care funding to specific organizations. Only the following may apply for a grant:Not-for-profit hospitalsAcademic health centersArea health education centersSelect organizations in counties without an eligible hospitalNot-for-profit inpatient facilities

Ineligibility

The following are ineligible for funding:IndividualsOrganizations without a presence in North Carolina or South CarolinaOrganizations with any legal status other than 501(c)(3)Organizations that focus on areas other than child care, health care, or rural churches