Foundations Provide $30-Million for University’s Volunteerism Program

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Duke Endowment are each giving $15-million to help a new effort at Duke University where students work on service projects locally or around the world, reports The News and Observer, in Raleigh, N.C.

DukeEngage will use earnings on these investments to help students volunteer. The money will pay for travel expenses and a stipend for a summer—or semester-long—project, and will pay faculty and staff members who help the students.

The university estimates that one in four Duke students will participate in the program, which begins next year.

One student who is raising thousands of dollars to support a small group traveling to India to educate people about AIDS and HIV is excited about DukeEngage.

“This program would allow anyone to do that, and it would take away the hurdle,” said 19-year-old Aneesh Kapur.