A Message from the Parents Program Chairs

As we enter our second and final year as Chairs of the Duke Parents Committee, we have exciting plans.  No, we don’t plan on resting on the record-breaking success from last year ($9.5 million raised!). We’re determined to make 2024-2025 an even bigger win for the Duke Annual Fund, which helps students and faculty thrive. 

The beginning of the school year is exciting, as we welcome new 2028 members to the committee! Many have asked why we would take on this role as Chairs. When our first child became a student at Duke, we quickly realized that Duke is a very special place for its students – and their families. And not just alumni families. The Duke Parents Committee is known far and wide for making non-alumni parents feel at home and a critical part of the Duke community. We have met extraordinary professors and administrators who are invested in our kids through the committee. We have met fabulous parents doing exciting and creative work around the globe.

There is an opportunity for a deeper connection to Duke through the Duke Parents Committee. Please join us and take advantage of all this committee offers while we raise funds so that other Duke families can have an equitable experience.

Warmest regards,

— Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, P’23, P’25, P’28

Share your time and energy with Duke!

The Duke Parents Program is a vital part of the Duke Annual Fund. Each year, the generosity of Duke parents helps the university support its financial aid program, sustain a world-class faculty, pay for service-learning projects, and provide support for a wealth of innovative learning opportunities for students. The Parents Committee is the premier volunteer opportunity for non-alumni parents at Duke.

In 2022-2023, the Duke Parents Committee raised over $9.4 million to set a new record for the Parents Program! This success would not be possible without the support, dedication, and enthusiasm of 930+ non-alumni Duke parents from across the country and across the globe. These proud Duke parents provide leadership support for the Annual Fund and reach out to other Duke parents to enlist their support of the Annual Fund. Our parent volunteers enjoy gaining a deeper appreciation for the experiences their children are having as Duke students, meeting fellow parents, and having an opportunity to give back to a university that gives their children so much.

Committee Members are asked to:

  • Make a leadership gift to the Annual Fund that is commensurate with your philanthropic capacity and passion for Duke, with the minimum gift being at the Washington Duke Society level.
  • Actively serve in at least one primary volunteer role, and update Class Co-Chairs and Parents Program staff on your outreach throughout the year:
    • Fundraising Volunteers: Educate parents about the importance of giving to Duke, and ask them to join you in supporting the Annual Fund. Resources will be provided to engage them through phone calls, letters, and/or emails. Send thank you notes to parents after they give.
    • Stewardship Volunteers: Send personalized thank you notes to parent donors at least two times each year, typically in the winter and summer. Call incoming families to welcome them to Duke each spring on behalf of the Parents Committee. Follow up with these families during the fall of their student’s freshman year to provide support and guidance.
  • Serve as an ambassador to help strengthen relationships between parents and the University, and identify potential leadership donors and volunteers from your network.
  • Attend Committee events during Family Weekend (November 3-5) and Parents Committee Spring Weekend (April 5-7) as your schedule allows.
  • Participate in other opportunities as you are able, such as hosting or attending regional events, mentoring students, offering internships at your company, or speaking on campus.

Committee Members can expect:

  • Meaningful impact at the University through your philanthropy, engagement, and volunteerism.
  • Exclusive access to hear from top Duke faculty and administrators at events and Speaker Series calls.
  • Support from Parents Program staff and Class Co-Chairs, including training materials, regular updates, contact information, outreach emails and tips, and other resources as requested.
  • Mentorship connections for you and your student in the Committee’s private Mentorlink program.
  • Connections with fellow parents through outreach, regional events, and on-campus opportunities.
  • Staff assistance in navigating Duke and deeper engagement with specific interest areas for you or your student.

Fill out the form below to request additional information on joining the Parents Committee.

Questions?

Contact us at (919) 684-4419 or parentsprogram@duke.edu.