Our Priorities

Strategic Community Impact Plan

We are excited to share the Duke Strategic Community Impact Plan (SCIP). After listening and learning from community partners, this document is a guide to Duke’s community engagement efforts to forge purposeful partnerships with our neighbors for the greatest positive impact. As implementation begins and community needs change, we will adapt the plan together. Please check back often for updates. 

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Our Priorities

Duke’s emerging priorities are community-informed. By listening to our community partners, neighbors, Durham officials, and community organizers, Duke identified five focus areas in which it can forge purposeful partnerships to advance quality of life in Durham.

Housing Affordability and Infrastructure

Duke and community partners are thinking critically about affordable housing availability and infrastructure to enable equitable access to jobs and services for residents in Durham. Duke will continue its investments in home affordability and sustainability programs in loan-making and land-banking, financial literacy, transportation, health, and homelessness prevention. In conjunction with those activities, Duke is committed to increasing affordable housing units and to help existing residents remain in place.  

Food Security & Nutrition

Duke strives to eliminate health disparities by focusing on food security and access to nutritious foods to positively impact quality of life for vulnerable residents. Duke will work in partnership with nonprofits and faith-based organizations to tackle food security and nutrition and to help close health gaps.

Early Childhood Education & K-12 School Readiness

In partnership with parents, teachers, students, principals, administrators and education scholars, Duke seeks a holistic approach to early childhood development and public education. Duke is committed to expanding access to high-quality childcare and to improve education outcomes through outreach and investments in local schools and programs. 

College and Career Readiness

As an educational institution and employer, Duke can support college and career readiness including post-secondary opportunities and workforce partnerships in Durham. This includes expanding its internship and work-based learning opportunities. By working with our partners, Duke hopes to lower barriers to employment for traditionally excluded groups, and to help coordinate and navigate Duke’s resources for college and career opportunities.

Nonprofit Capacity

Duke is committed to supporting nonprofits and faith-based organizations through capacity-building activities such as grant writing and board development, resources such as grants, research and volunteerism, and programmatic support in the five focus areas.