FAQs

Why did Duke change the annual United Way Duke Partnership campaign?

Participation in the annual employee giving campaign had declined from a high of 22% in 2001 to just 7% in 2008. Faculty and staff indicated they would be more likely to participate if given more options. As a result, the annual campaign was expanded to include schools and nonprofit organizations that apply for funding through the five thematic categories administered by Duke: Health, Neighborhoods, Schools, Youth Empowerment and the Community Care Fund.

Who sees my donation record?

Duke Doing Good is a Duke University/Duke University Health System giving campaign, which means any gift to the campaign may be seen by Duke Alumni & Development Records staff, Duke Development staff, Duke Payroll Services staff, Duke Doing Good campaign staff (who are based in the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs), and United Way staff, based on the way you give (payroll deduction, gifts.duke.edu or by cash/paper check).

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes, your donation to Duke Doing Good is tax-deductible.

For payroll deduction donations to Duke Doing Good’s Community Giving categories (Community Care Fund, Emergency Relief Fun, Health, Neighborhoods, Schools, Youth Empowerment), Duke’s Alumni & Development Records office sends out yearly tax receipts for all donations in early January. For one-off gifts made through gifts.duke.edu, receipts are sent as soon as the gift has been processed.

For donations through the United Way of the Greater Triangle giving portal, United Way issues printed tax receipts for all one-off gifts over $250 if United Way has the employee’s home mailing address. The employee can provide/update his or her home mailing address in their United Way account profile information. If the employee is making a payroll deduction gift to United Way, United Way does not issue tax receipts for payroll deduction donations. Duke employees can use a pay stub or another piece of documentation (such as an acknowledgement receipt, a screenshot of the donation, copy of a pledge form, etc.) as proof of their gift for tax reporting purposes.

What happens to my donation?

When you donate through Duke Doing Good, you can rest assured that your dollars are put to the best possible use in the community.

For Duke-administered gifts to the Community Care Fund competitive grantmaking program, Triangle nonprofits submit detailed applications about how they plan to use the funding. Then, a review committee of Duke University and Duke University Health System employees review each application, using a rubric, and decide on how to allocate funding. Funded nonprofits submit end-of-year reports about how Community Care Fund dollars supported their project.

For Duke-administered gifts to the Health, Housing and Neighborhoods, Schools and Youth Empowerment categories, community partners must submit funding proposals to the Duke Doing Good campaign as well as follow up on how dollars were used by submitting end-of-year reports.

Gifts to United Way of the Greater Triangle are collected through Duke payroll deduction or by cash/check. Duke payroll sends United Way of the Greater Triangle the donations. Click here to learn more about how United Way of the Greater Triangle uses Duke Doing Good funding for collaborative partnerships.

Year-round, we report back to Doing Good donors about how funding is being used in the community, through the News webpage as well as in our quarterly acknowledgements.

What is the best Way to Give?

You may also use the Alumni and Development Records secure giving site to make a 1-time or ongoing secure credit card or electronic check payment to Duke Community Giving.

I elected to give via payroll deduction. When will my deduction begin?

Employees are able to select the start date of their Duke payroll deduction on the Duke@Work self-service website.

What counties does the campaign support?

Employee donations to Doing Good benefit organizations in Durham, Wake, Orange and Johnston counties.

 

What are my giving options?

Doing Good gives you six giving options:

  • Housing & Neighborhoods
  • Health
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Community
  • Emergency Relief Fund (only activated during a state emergency)
  • United Way of the Greater Triangle

The categories are administered by Duke’s Office of Durham and Community Affairs. Duke covers the administrative costs, so 100% of contributions to those categories go to local schools, nonprofits and neighborhoods.

How can my department become involved in the campaign?

We are always looking for ways to involve Duke departments in the campaign. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a Campaign Champion, hosting an internal giving challenge, or volunteering with your colleagues at a local nonprofit, please contact us at doinggood@duke.edu.

I work or volunteer with a local nonprofit. How do I learn about applying for a grant from the Community Care Fund?

The Community Fund application process usually opens during the summer. Submitted applications are reviewed by a committee of Duke University and Duke University Health System employees, and grants are awarded in November. More information about eligibility requirements and a link to apply online can be found here.

How are organizations selected for funding?
  • There is a unit specific funding process for each of the Doing Good giving categories. Each unit announces their rounds for proposals (RFP) and has a review process to determine which applications will be funded. We do our best to ensure that the application and review process is equitable and fair.

In the case of the Community Fund, 18 volunteer readers are recruited from throughout the university and health system to review and score applications in teams of three using a detailed rubric system.

All applicant organizations must provide their W9, determination letter, and proposed program budget.

Is there an evaluation process for funded organizations?

Yes.  Each organization that receives funding is asked to submit an end of year project evaluation. Information that must be provided in this document include impact statistics of the number of people served, demographics of populations served, outcomes, purchase receipts, etc. The organization will maintain records to verify grant expenditures and activities.

How can I make a contribution from my donor advised fund?

For Donor Advised Funds contributions, the donor should instruct the company that manages their funds to send a letter with the donor’s name and address, the donation amount, and the specific Doing Good giving category and fund code and/or the United Way of the Triangle to:

 

Doing Good

Duke Alumni and Development Records
Duke University
Box 90581
Durham, NC 27708