Trust Agreement and Guidelines

The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation was established as a trust under the laws of the state of New York on September 14, 1956. Its primary purposes are to further and extend Mrs. Biddle's life-long interests in religious, educational, and charitable activities in the states of New York and North Carolina.

In the Trust Agreement, Mrs. Biddle specified that:

1. Trustees expend at least one-half of the annual income for religious, scientific, literary, medical research, or educational purposes at Duke University.
2. Trustees give consideration to Duke Memorial Methodist Church, Durham, NC; Christ Church United Methodist, New York, NY; Irvington Presbyterian Church, Irvington-on-Hudson, NY.
3. Trustees give consideration to other religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organizations, so long as they are nonprofit, tax-exempt, and are needy and worthy in the judgement of the Trustees.

1. Only tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations in NY and NC may apply.
2. Grants generally support projects that meet the foundation's goals.
3. Requests for grants to individuals, endowments, capital campaigns, public education institutions and their affiliated foundations, and for capital improvements such as building projects are not considered.
4. Organizations that have previously received grants from the foundation are eligible to reapply as long as their grant reports are current.

Applicants within the parameters and guidelines listed above are encouraged to initiate their requests with a brief letter - three pages or less - which includes:

1. The organization's name, address, and phone numbers clearly stated on the front page or within the organization's letterhead. If another organization is acting as the fiscal agent, then the request must be submitted by that organization on its letterhead.
2. The name of a contact person within the organization to whom all questions or requests for additional information may be directed.
3. The specific amount being requested from the foundation.
4. A program or project description.

In addition to your cover letter, the following information is required:

1. A description of the sponsoring organization.
2. A list of the board of directors.*
3. A list of staff members.*
4. An estimated project budget with line items.
5. A copy of the petitioning organization's federal tax-exempt certification under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If your IRS letter does not include your organization's employer identification number (EIN), please write it on the copy submitted.

* This information may already be included on your organization's letterhead.

A hard copy of your application must be in our office by close of the day of the stated deadline. No faxes, e-mails, or copies will be accepted.

All organizations are required to submit a detailed financial report regarding the use of their grant 90 days after receiving the grant. If a final report cannot be submitted at that time, then a progress report must be sent with periodic updates until completion of the project funded.

Grant requests are reviewed at quarterly board meetings in March, June, September, and December. For deadlines and other information, please contact the Foundation at (919) 493-5591. Applicants will be notified of the Board of Trustees' decisions within one week after the board meeting.

Please address all proposals to:

Douglas C. Zinn
Executive Director
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation
1044 West Forest Hills Boulevard
Durham, North Carolina 27707