Advancing Innovation

Child Care

The Duke Endowment's Child Care investments primarily support projects that use high-achieving approaches. When successful models are lacking, we pursue investment to advance innovation.

Before applying applicants must contact Rhett Mabry or Phil Redmond at 704.376.0291.

We define "advancing innovation" as developing and testing new approaches to outperform existing practices. The critical factor is improving performance.

We support two approaches to innovation:

• Pilots an innovation for the first time. In these cases, we prefer to test new approaches on a small scale to study key assumptions without major cost. These projects may function as beta tests for larger projects to follow.
• Builds on some measure of an existing program's demonstrated success. This approach seeks to prove that the existing evidence of success is a result of the program.

Eligibility examples
Applications in this category must focus on programs that test innovative approaches striving to outperform existing models. Requests may include evaluation of new treatments. They may also evaluate promising care models that already exist, such as residential group care, foster care, therapeutic treatment, and early intervention and prevention strategies related to child abuse and neglect.

These grants will be expected to undergo rigorous evaluation that may include a small study (pilot).

Downloads

Application Documents --  to be submitted

If you try to edit your answers in any of the forms, you'll find that you cannot delete individual words or sentences. If you need to edit large sections, we recommend that you create a Word document, copy your answer into that document and make changes there. You can then paste back into the original form.

• Application: Explain how your project will advance innovation.
• Budget Form: Itemize your revenue sources and related expenses for the project.

Application Resources -- for reference

• User Guide: Understand Endowment objectives and effectively frame your application.
• Sample Application and Budget: Structure your application and budget information on this example, which is mirrored in the user guide.
• Grantmaking strategy overview: Learn about The Duke Endowments funding strategies.

Reporting Documents for Active Grants -- to be submitted

If you try to edit your answers in any of the forms, you'll find that you cannot delete individual words or sentences. If you need to edit large sections, we recommend that you create a Word document, copy your answer into that document and make changes there. You can then paste back into the original form.

• Annual Reports:
  • Report Form: Report on annual results, challenges and anticipated outcomes.
  • Budget Form: Report on annual revenue and related expenses.
• Final Reports:
  • Report Form: Report on project results, challenges and lessons learned.
  • Budget Form: Report on final revenue and related expenses.

The Duke Endowment requires the following documents from all FIRST TIME grant applicants:

• brief cover letter with CEO/President's signature-acknowledges that the information included in the application is complete and accurate
• copy of the organizational articles of incorporation
• copy of your license
• copy of the deed(s) to the property (for capital projects only),
• audited financial statements for the past two fiscal years ended
• listing of the names and mailing addresses of your Board of Directors/Trustees and your Executive Officers

If your organization has received Endowment funding in the past, you only need to submit:

• brief cover letter with CEO/President's signature-acknowledges that the information included in the application is complete and accurate
• audited financial statements for the past two fiscal years ended