United for a Cause: Duke’s Doing Good Employee Giving Campaign

Annual campaign provides a convenient way to support nonprofits in Durham and the greater Triangle area

Staff gathered around a table that has a "Duke Doing Good" banner.
The annual Doing Good employee giving campaign provides Duke faculty and staff a convenient way to support the local community.

Amy Kenyon has always found it essential to give back and support her community.

For the past several years, Duke’s Doing Good employee giving campaign has been a way for Kenyon to do just that.

“I feel fortunate that I have a good job, a home, my health and financial stability at this point in my life,” said Kenyon, Director of Special Projects at Duke Learning Innovation. “I feel a responsibility to give where I can.”

The annual campaign, which runs through June 30, 2024, provides Duke University and Duke University Health System staff and faculty a convenient way to contribute to six curated funds: community, health, education, employment, housing and neighborhoods, and the United Way of the Greater Triangle. Faculty and staff can contribute anytime on the Work@Duke portal by making a one-time donation or by setting up regular contributions through payroll deduction.

Amy Kenyon
Amy Kenyon

“In this season of giving, we invite employees to continue contributing their time, talent and treasure to support local nonprofits and community-based organizations,” said Tuere Bowles, Senior Assistant Vice President for Operations, Research and Advancement at Duke’s Office of Durham and Community Affairs. “Together, we can make a difference with our neighbors to improve the health and well-being of communities that have meaningful impacts.”

During the 2021-22 campaign, Duke staff and faculty donations supported affordable housing for local residents, disaster relief work and community health clinics.

Kenyon is a frequent donor to Doing Good’s Community fund, which supports projects addressing significant community needs in North Carolina by providing grants to local nonprofits. Since the organizations and partners supported by the fund are reviewed by the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs, Kenyon said she feels confident that the donation she makes will have biggest impact possible.

“I felt like the Community fund of Doing Good, by supporting such a variety of nonprofits, is   broadly supporting a wide range of needs in the community,” she said. “I like the combination of broad reach coupled with application review to direct the funds where they can do the most good.”

Duke Doing Good.

Last year, the Community fund awarded $147,773 to 37 partners and organizations in the Durham community, helping at least 26,000 people. Seeing the differences made through the work of the nonprofits supported by the fund, Kenyon said, provides her a stronger sense of connection to the larger Durham community.

“I feel connected to Durham as more than a place of work and feel grateful to be able to support that in some way,” she said.

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