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Duke University and Duke University Health System are dedicated to the city of Durham, its residents, and its future. Duke is proud to support issues that matter to Durham as an employer, care provider, and partner.
For more than three decades, Duke has been working closely with and listening to neighbors to help shape our strategic priorities and programs. Entering its second century in Durham, Duke remains unwavering in its commitment to creating lasting partnerships to advance our shared goals in our hometown.
We are delighted to share more about how we work with community leaders, nonprofits, and small businesses to advance our shared priorities for collective impact.
Because Duke lives here, works here, cares here.
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Giving Back, The Duke Way
Daya Brown has been Duke's top individual volunteer since the beginning of the academic year, accumulating more than 100 hours of volunteering. She embodies "the Duke way" of giving back to the community with her work at Durham non-profits including Durham County Cooperative Extension, Meals on Wheels Durham, and Purpose Learning Lab.
Durham is home.
Beginning in 1996, the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership became the first official vehicle for engagement with Durham. The work initially included 12 neighborhoods (now 14) in direct proximity to Duke's campus and recognized the mutual benefit of communication and connection among them.
The Strategic Community Impact Plan (SCIP) was developed in 2020-202, outlining goals for purposeful partnerships with our neighbors and informed by input from more than 650 community members and organizations.
In 2024-2025, the SCIP goals were updated to reflect post-pandemic learning and feedback from community members, many of whom contributed to the original version, as well as Duke stakeholders.
In addition to the focus areas outlined in the SCIP, Duke's community engagement work is guided by the recommendations of the Board of Trustees' Duke and Durham Today and Tomorrow Task Force. The recommendation led to the creation of the Duke Partnership Platform, Duke Center for Community-Engaged Scholarship, and Duke HomeGrown.
Through HomeGrown, we have committed $203 million to boost local hiring, buy from local businesses, contract with more local construction-related firms, and invest in creating more affordable housing.
Discover how Duke is for Durham
It's Not Just Baseball to This Coach
As principal of the Hospital School at Duke and Coach of the Durham Owls, Michael Somers is invested in Durham. He loves his community, and he loves giving back to it. Read more
Celebrating 25 Years of School Days
For 25 years, Duke School Days has brought Durham eighth graders to campus to explore science, technology, and college life through hands-on activities led by Duke students, faculty, and staff. Read more
Giving Back, the Duke Way
Duke student Daya Brown reflects on the her values and the importance of giving back to the community that you live in. She comments on her volunteering position at Purpose Learning Lab in Durham, NC. Read more