The Duke Endowment

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Applying for Grants

Child Care


The Duke Endowment's new grant application and submission process is designed to clearly communicate our strategies and guidelines, ultimately helping grantees submit more effective applications.

The new grant submission process includes six steps:

STEP 1. Determine eligibility of your organization.
STEP 2. Identify grant application deadlines
STEP 3. Select the application that best matches your project objectives.
STEP 4. Complete application.
STEP 5. Submit application and supporting materials.
STEP 6. Receive notification.


STEP 1. Determine eligibility of your organization.

The following North Carolina and South Carolina organizations are eligible to apply for Child Care grants: 
  • Accredited licensed residential children's homes 
  • Accredited adoption placement agencies 
  • Prevent Child Abuse of North Carolina and South Carolina
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies 
  • Accredited child advocacy centers 
  • Public sector child welfare agencies (under certain circumstances)
Grants are not available for child day-care centers or after-school programs unless they are affiliated with one of the organizations mentioned above.


STEP 2. Identify grant application deadlines.

The Trustees of The Duke Endowment meet to review Child Care grant applications two times per year-in May and November. Applications must be received on or before the following dates: 
  • January 15 for consideration at the May meeting 
  • July 15 for consideration at the November meeting


STEP 3. Select the application that best matches your project objectives.

Programs and capital projects must support one of three funding strategies:

Improving Lives grants reflect the value we place on proven programs and strategies. The Duke Endowment recognizes the documented value of several approaches designed to improve the lives of vulnerable children: 

  • Families and Schools Together (FAST) 
  • Multisystemic Therapy (MST) 
  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) 
  • Strengthening Families
  • The Incredible Years
  • Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Other proven approaches will be considered as well.

Strengthening Organizations grants reflect our commitment to investing in building the infrastructure of effective organizations and institutions. In our efforts to improve facilities, systems, management and operations, we are particularly interested in supporting opportunities that show great promise for long-term gains.

Advancing Innovation grants reflect our investment in projects that advance innovation when high-achieving, successful models are lacking.

For more information, review our Grantmaking strategy overview.


STEP 4. Once you've determined which application best matches your proposed project, download it, review the corresponding guide, sample application and budget.
Before applying for Improving Lives and Advancing Innovation grants, applicants must contact Rhett Mabry or Phil Redmond at 704.376.0291.

Once you've determined which application best matches your proposed project, download it, review the corresponding guide, sample application and sample budget. Each will provide information important for framing your application responses and budget proposal. Complete and comprehensive applications increase the likelihood that a project will receive Endowment funding.


STEP 5. Submit application and supporting materials.

Please submit all documents electronically if possible. Documents may be mailed as hard copies if necessary. To submit electronically: 
  • Send to Marilyn MacKenzie, Senior Administrative Assistant of Child Care, mmackenzie@tde.org
  • Include your organization's name in the subject line.


STEP 6. Receive notification of application submission.

The Duke Endowment will acknowledge receipt of your application.

Contact us if you have any eligibility questions, if you're not sure which funding strategy your project supports, or if you would like to discuss other details of your project.