Duke Launches the Made for This Campaign
Duke University recently launched the most ambitious fundraising and engagement campaign in its history. MADE FOR THIS: The Duke Campaign will engage alumni and friends of the university to accelerate progress in areas where Duke can make the greatest difference in the world—advancing innovation through science and technology, creating a more sustainable planet, shaping students as next-generation leaders, and advancing healthcare to help communities thrive.
The comprehensive campaign will also support key priorities across Duke’s 10 schools, Duke Health, and a range of university programs, while increasing volunteerism and engagement among the university’s 200,000 alumni and friends.
“Just as the successes of our first 100 years were made possible by generous alumni and friends, the achievements to come in our second century will depend on the engagement and philanthropic support of alumni and friends who believe in our mission and are inspired to multiply their impact in the world through Duke,” said President Vincent E. Price.
MADE FOR THIS evolved through a strategic planning effort that included deans, faculty leaders, and key administrators across campus, plus feedback from alumni and donors, including lead campaign ambassadors Grant Hill, ’94; Chris Kempczinski, ’91; Jeff Ubben, ’83; Alyssa Fanelli Varadhan, ’02; and Laurene Sperling, ’78.
Key fundraising priorities will extend Duke’s value and impact in the world:
- Elevating Duke Science and Technology (DST), the university’s historic effort to recruit and retain the world’s leading researchers in the sciences. With nearly 40 DST scholars hired to date, the initiative is bringing together scientists and researchers across disciplines to accelerate discoveries for currently incurable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and more.
- Expanding the Duke Climate Commitment, the university’s effort to tackle climate change and sustainability through education, research, external engagement, campus operations, and community partnerships. Research in climate science and innovations in materials, insurance markets, energy management systems, ecosystem conservation technology, and plant science showcase how Duke teamwork is making a difference for the planet and shaping a new generation of climate leaders.
- Preparing undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to take on the local and global challenges of the moment. Duke’s nationally lauded undergraduate student experience boasts robust financial support, prioritizing the health and well-being of students, creating belonging, and building communities that support academic success and personal growth. In addition, the university recently introduced a new undergraduate curriculum for the first time in a generation.
- Advancing world-class healthcare and biomedical discovery for residents of North Carolina and beyond through Duke Health, including the Duke University Health System, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, the Duke Global Health Institute, and the Duke Clinical Research Institute—the first and largest academic clinical research organization in the world.
For the first time in Duke’s campaign history, the university will also prioritize engagement goals to mobilize the entire Duke community, not only in philanthropy but also in ways they can give back through their volunteerism and expertise.
Throughout this campaign, the university aims to create 175 new professorships and directorships across all units and schools, revitalize 420,000 square feet of lab and classroom space across campus, reconnect 85,000 alumni to Duke, and raise transformative support for core programs such as financial aid and the annual fund.
Every action counts for The Duke Campaign! If you would like to attend an event in your area, volunteer your time, or make a gift to support future generations, please visit: madeforthis.duke.edu.
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