Our Mission
The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) is to improve the quality of people's lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke's properties.
DDCF’s mission, grantmaking programs, museums and centers are guided by Doris Duke’s will and operated through five related philanthropies: the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the Duke Farms Foundation, the Doris Duke Foundation and the Doris Duke Management Foundation.
Learn more about Doris Duke’s life, legacy and the history of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and its related organizations.
Our Grantmaking Programs
The Doris Duke philanthropies currently operate five national grantmaking programs:
- The Performing Arts Program supports performing artists with the creation and public performance of their work, with a particular focus on contemporary dance, jazz and theater artists.
- The Medical Research Program strives to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases by strengthening and supporting clinical research.
- The Environment Program seeks to ensure a thriving, resilient environment for wildlife and people, and to foster an inclusive, effective conservation movement.
- The Child Well-being Program aims to promote children’s healthy development and protect them from abuse and neglect.
- The Building Bridges Program works with U.S. Muslims to increase mutual understanding and well-being among diverse populations for the benefit of building stronger, inclusive communities. (This program is supported through the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.)
From time to time, DDCF also undertakes special initiatives in pursuit of its mission. Currently, the foundation supports the African Health Initiative, launched in the fall of 2007, with the goal of strengthening health systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Our Museums and Centers
The Doris Duke philanthropies operate and support three sites in accordance with the wishes of Doris Duke. These properties, all former residences that belonged to Duke, now serve the public in ways that extend her legacy and advance the mission of the Doris Duke organizations.
Duke Farms in Hillsborough, N.J. is a 2,700-acre center for environmental stewardship.
Shangri La in Honolulu is a museum for learning about the global cultures of Islamic art and design.
Rough Point in Newport, R.I. is a museum featuring extensive collections of fine and decorative arts and educational programs. (The museum is maintained and operated by the Newport Restoration Foundation, with support from DDCF.)
Our Values
The following values underpin everything we do in pursuit of our mission across the Doris Duke philanthropies:
- Integrity: We must be honest and ethical in all that we undertake. As a group of private foundations, we are accountable to the many stakeholders affected by our work.
- Excellence: We will insist on the highest standards of performance in fulfilling our mission, will ground our work in best practices and will make decisions based on the best available information.
- Openness and Imagination: We will be listening and learning organizations that are responsive to ideas and opinions from a variety of sources. We value imagination and creativity, the ability to think in new ways about the work we do and how we do it.
- Collaboration: We value a collaborative and supportive environment in which to advance our mission and objectives. Creating a working environment that promotes trust, honesty and respect within our organizations is as important as earning the trust and respect of our colleagues and peers in the fields in which we work.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We believe in the essential value that a diverse set of perspectives, experiences and abilities brings to the table. Our commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice is an ongoing, active engagement reflected in our funding areas, grantees, museums, centers, board and staff. At the core of our work is a dedication to serving and learning from organizations and individuals addressing inequities and working toward a more just, healthy and inclusive society. (Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and how we incorporate this value into our work.)
