The Duke Endowment, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based private foundation, has supported higher education and other initiatives in the Carolinas for the past 100 years.
To celebrate its centennial year, the endowment recently gifted $25 million to Furman University’s The Furman Advantage initiative. Beth Pontari, Furman’s interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, said the initiative represents the university’s approach to undergraduate education.
Students receive a personalized, four-year pathway to graduation along with increased mentoring and support from their advisers. Opportunities for research, internships and study-away programs are also made available through The Furman Advantage.
Kristi Walters, The Duke Endowment’s director of higher education, said The Furman Advantage is not just an educational model but a transformative journey that empowers students to navigate and excel in the world.
“The Duke Endowment’s higher education program area strives to understand and support the selected priorities of the four schools named in (James) Duke’s indenture of trust,” Walters said. “The continued development of The Furman Advantage is one of Furman’s top priorities.”
The Duke Endowment has invested $77.5 million in The Furman Advantage since it launched in 2016. Pontari said the endowment has also supported Furman students by providing scholarships and contributing to the university’s science building and library.
A century of support
While supporting higher education, The Duke Endowment also focuses on providing grants for child and family well-being, health care and rural churches. These guidelines were established by Duke, an industrialist and philanthropist who created the foundation in 1924.
“Since its founding, the endowment has awarded $4.5 billion in grants across North Carolina and South Carolina, which equates to more than $10.5 billion in today’s dollars,” Walters said.
A traveling exhibit showcasing The Duke Endowment’s history and impact is currently touring the Carolinas as part of its centennial celebration. The exhibit is currently on display at the Upcountry History Museum until March 3.
“Through interactive content panels and digital experiences, visitors will learn how Mr. Duke and The Duke Endowment helped shape the Carolinas and how Mr. Duke’s generosity continues to support the region today,” Walters said.
The exhibit’s next stop is the Anderson County Museum beginning in early March. To learn more about The Duke Endowment, visit dukeendowment.org.
