The Duke Endowment
Profile
800 E. Morehead St.
Charlotte, NC United States 28202-4012
Telephone: (704) 376-0291
Type of Grantmaker
Independent foundation
Additional Descriptor
EIN
560529965
BRIDGE Number
1351379273
Background
Trust established in 1924 in NJ - Founded by James Buchanan Duke, who was the founder of the American Tobacco Company and Duke Energy. In the 1890s, American Tobacco had a monopoly on cigarettes in the American market. Duke provided an initial $40 million trust fund for the Endowment and at the time of his death in 1925 his will provided an additional $67 million. Mr. Duke also directed that a substantial amount of funds be used in developing Duke University (known at the time as Trinity College), with the stipulation that the school be renamed in honor of his father, Washington Duke.