Curiosity is our legacy. Let's carry it forward.
For 50 years, OLLI at Duke has brought people together to learn, discover new interests, form friendships, and build community.
The OLLI we enjoy today was shaped by people who believed in its future. Generations of members and friends have given their time, talents, and financial support to build and strengthen this remarkable learning community.
Each of us has an opportunity to carry that spirit forward.
Your Support Makes OLLI Possible
Membership and course fees cover approximately 70% of OLLI at Duke's annual operating costs. Endowment income and charitable gifts make up the difference.
That support allows us to keep participation within reach for more people while investing in the instructors, programs, spaces, technology, and staff support that make the OLLI experience possible.
It also gives OLLI the flexibility to say yes: yes to an exceptional instructor, a new program, an unexpected opportunity, financial assistance for a member who needs it, and new ways for people to learn and connect.
Your Gift Strengthens What Matters Most
Learning
Exceptional courses, instructors, speakers, and experiences that keep us curious and engaged.
Access
Opportunities for more people to participate in lifelong learning, regardless of financial circumstances.
Community
Programs, spaces, and experiences that create connection, friendship, and belonging.
Make a Difference All Year Long
A gift of $10, $25, $50, or another amount each month adds up to meaningful support and provides OLLI with a dependable source of funding for programs and opportunities throughout the year.
When you make your gift online, simply choose the recurring gift option to make your contribution monthly.
Setup a Recurring Gift to OLLI at Duke
OLLI Giving Circles
Our Giving Circles recognize annual leadership giving and the members and friends whose generosity helps OLLI continue to thrive. Giving Circle recognition is based on your cumulative giving to OLLI during the year, so every gift you make counts toward your annual total.
| Giving Circle | Annual Giving | Donor Experience & Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Circle | $500 - $999 | Carry OLLI with you. Receive a special OLLI keepsake as a token of our gratitude. In 2027, donors will receive a limited-edition 50th Anniversary keepsake. |
| Curiosity Circle | $1,000 - $2,499 | Come together. Invitation to an annual donor reception celebrating the people whose generosity strengthens OLLI. |
| Discovery Circle | $2,500 - $4,999 | Go behind the scenes. Invitation to a special behind-the-scenes Duke experience created for OLLI donors. |
| Community Circle | $5,000 - $9,999 | Join the conversation. Invitation to a small-group experience with a distinguished Duke or OLLI guest, such as a faculty leader, visiting speaker, author, or other special guest. |
| Leadership Circle | $10,000+ | Lead the way. Recognition in the Leadership Circle, along with personal updates and opportunities for engagement with OLLI leadership. |
- Each Giving Circle includes the expressions of gratitude offered at previous levels.
Ways to Give
There are many ways to support OLLI at Duke:
Gifts by Credit Card
The IRS requires that credit cards be charged by midnight on December 31 for the donor to receive a gift receipt for the calendar year that’s ending. Mailed credit card gifts must be received at Duke Alumni & Development Records (ADR) and manually charged by December 28 for Duke to issue a gift receipt for the concluding calendar year. Online credit card gifts may be made until midnight on December 31 of the concluding year.
Electronic Transfers
Please notify Alumni and Development Records at (919) 684-2338 or adrecords@duke.edu after you have scheduled an electronic transfer to indicate that your gift is for OLLI at Duke (Fund Code 399-1664). If you are trying to meet a deadline, you might also consider charging your gift to a credit card or mailing a payment through an express carrier. Note that IRS regulations stipulate that contributions sent by private carriers must be dated based on Duke’s date of receipt, whereas gifts sent through the US Postal Service can be dated based on the postmark date.
Gifts by Check
Mail your gift to the Office of Alumni and Development Records, where all charitable contributions to Duke University and the Duke University Health System are processed. Please make all checks payable to Duke University and specify in the memo line that your gift is for OLLI at Duke (Fund Code 399-1664). You can use these mailing addresses:
U.S. Mail
Alumni and Development Records
Duke University
Box 90581
Durham, NC 27708-0581
Phone: (919) 684-2338
Fax: (919) 684-8527
Express Mail
Alumni and Development Records
c/o Duke University Cashiering
114 S. Buchanan Blvd
Bay 8 Room B-103
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 684-4245
In addition to making an outright or recurring gift online, you may wish to explore gifts of securities, donor-advised funds, IRA charitable distributions, matching gifts, estate and planned gifts, and other giving options.
Duke's Office of Alumni Engagement and Development can help you find an approach that works well for you and your philanthropic goals.
Have a question or an idea? Let's talk.
Giving doesn't have to begin with a form. If you're considering a gift to OLLI at Duke, thinking about including OLLI in your estate plans, or simply wondering what might be possible, we'd be glad to talk with you.
Contact Rhonda Parker, Director of OLLI at Duke, at rhonda.parker@duke.edu or 919-660-8552. There's no obligation, and you don't need to know exactly what kind of gift you want to make before reaching out.
For planned gifts and other giving strategies, we can connect you with Duke's charitable giving professionals, who can work with you and your financial or legal advisors to explore options that fit your goals.
The OLLI community we enjoy today is a gift from those who came before us.
What we build together now is our gift to those who follow.