Duke Health celebrates impact of record-breaking philanthropy
In a milestone year for philanthropy, Duke Health raised more than $324 million from over 21,000 donors, the strongest fundraising year in its history — a reflection of the generosity and partnership celebrated in the recently released 2026 Duke Health Donor Impact Report.
The record-breaking philanthropic support in 2025-2026 helped Duke Health advance breakthrough discoveries, deliver extraordinary care, educate tomorrow’s healthcare leaders, and improve lives across North Carolina and around the world.
“At Duke Health, we believe progress begins with the conviction that a healthier future is possible and the determination to pursue it,” said Stacy L. Waters, MBA, vice president and chief philanthropy officer for Duke Health. “Time and again, our donors help turn that belief into action.”
The year was marked by extraordinary achievements and national recognition. Care teams provided exceptional care to more than 7.2 million Duke Health patients, and U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke Health as North Carolina’s No. 1 hospital and No. 1 children’s hospital, while 11 adult specialties and 10 pediatric specialties earned national rankings. Duke Health also experienced an 8% increase in donors over the previous year.
Additional highlights include:
- A landmark $30 million, 10-year grant from the Pritzker Children’s Initiative is empowering Duke to launch an effort to improve maternal and early childhood health across North Carolina.
- A $4.5 million grant from The Duke Endowment has launched a groundbreaking initiative at Duke Health to confront one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the intersection of climate change and human health.
- A $250,000 gift by Nancy Schlichting, MBA, T’76, and her wife, Pam Theisen, created the Duke Health Nursing Innovation Fund, empowering nurses to imagine, test, and scale new ideas that improve care for patients and families and strengthen the nursing profession.
- An $11.45 million award from the Nanaline H. Duke fund expands the reach of physician-scientists at Duke, supporting doctors who combine clinical care with biomedical research and innovation.
Duke Health is part of MADE FOR THIS, Duke University’s ambitious campaign to bring together the global Duke community to accelerate innovation and drive solutions for some of the biggest challenges of our time. At Duke Health, that means groundbreaking research, exceptional patient care, transformative education, and a commitment to improving health for all.
“Philanthropic support gives our physicians, scientists, educators, and care teams the flexibility to innovate, collaborate, and move promising discoveries closer to the people who need them most,” Waters said. “Whether advancing research, expanding access to care, or preparing the next generation of leaders, donor generosity helps turn bold ideas into real-world impact. Together, we are MADE FOR THIS.”