Durham Tech Foundation secures major investments supporting workforce training, student success, and innovation

The Durham Tech Foundation secured record-breaking philanthropic and grant support during the 2025–26 fiscal year to expand workforce training opportunities, strengthen high-demand career pathways, and prepare students for the region’s evolving economy.  

In total, the Foundation raised $11.2 million in public and private support for the College, including $9.9 million in gifts and grants to the Foundation and $1.3 million in grants to the College. All funds raised by the Foundation support the College’s strategic priorities.

The grants highlighted below showcase some of the year's most significant investments in Durham Tech's students and programs. They represent just a portion of the Foundation's overall fundraising efforts, which also included other major gifts, corporate and foundation support, individual donor contributions, scholarships, and numerous other grants.

Over $1.1 million to prepare students for the workforce  

Durham Tech secured over $1.1 million in new investments to expand high-demand workforce training across emerging and essential industries. These grants strengthen the College's capacity to prepare students for careers in skilled trades and life sciences through new academic programs, state-of-the-art equipment, modern learning spaces, and expanded partnerships with leading employers.

Among the grants the College received:

• Durham Tech was selected as one of 10 North Carolina community colleges participating in the Careers Electric™ initiative, supported by Siemens Foundation in partnership with the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation, and Wake Technical Community College. The $250,000 investment will strengthen Durham Tech’s Electrical Systems Technology program through faculty support, equipment, and lab expansion, helping address persistent workforce shortages in the electrical trades. An additional $13,000 grant from the North Carolina Committee for Business Education supported the launch of Durham Tech’s Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) technician program in Spring 2026.
• Boosting the College’s ongoing Orange County Campus expansion project, Truist Foundation awarded the Durham Tech Foundation a grant to expand skilled trades programming through classroom construction and equipment upgrades tied to high-demand trades pathways. This $200,000 grant enables Durham Tech to offer electrical, HVAC, and plumbing courses in Orange County for the first time, increasing access to workforce training for students and employers across the region.
• Support for Durham Tech’s growing life sciences initiatives also accelerated this year with the launch of the Advancing Life Sciences Talent naming campaign supporting the new Novo Nordisk Life Science Center. Durham Tech is grateful for early and significant support from Biogen, which committed $250,000, and Eli Lilly and Company, which contributed $125,000 toward the campaign. The campaign will help expand industry-aligned training, laboratory learning environments, and pathways into the region’s rapidly growing biotechnology and life sciences workforce.

$750,000 to invest in institutional excellence

Among the year’s largest investments was a $550,000 award from Achieving the Dream that supports Durham Tech’s participation in a national initiative focused on improving how colleges use integrated data systems to support student success. Through the project, Durham Tech will help co-design and pilot a new cloud-based Unified Data and Technology System that brings together information from student records, learning management, and advising systems to support more coordinated, data-informed decision-making. The initiative also includes institutional capacity-building around data governance, digital transformation, and holistic student support strategies.

Developing faculty and staff is an essential part of Durham Tech’s commitment to student success and organizational excellence. To support that work, the AJ Fletcher Foundation awarded $150,000 to Durham Tech’s Organizational Development and Learning division for leadership programming and instructional innovation initiatives that strengthen employee growth, learning, and leadership development across the College.

Durham Tech also won two grants totaling $118,7720 from the State Library of North Carolina that expand how students engage with academic support and library resources. A $100,000 project grant creates new dedicated study spaces in the Main Campus Library and brings tutoring services directly into library spaces.

More than $300,000 to support student basic needs

The Foundation makes annual commitments to support Durham Tech’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program (EFAP) and the Campus Harvest Food Pantry. This year, the Foundation raised more than $160,000 for the EFAP and Wellness and Basic Needs, including a generous $25,000 grant from Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The Foundation also secured more than $95,000 in contributions to the food pantry, including a $15,000 grant from the AJ Fletcher Foundation, a $5,000 grant from Publix Charities for the Thanksgiving Bags program, and a $25,000 grant from the Durham County Cooperative Extension to boost the renovation of the Main Campus pantry facility.

“These investments reflect strong confidence in Durham Tech’s ability to prepare students for meaningful careers while helping meet the workforce needs of our region,” said Roxanne Miller, Vice President and Executive Director of the Foundation. “Each partnership expands access to education and training that creates opportunity for students and strengthens the industries and communities we serve.”

Pat Ashley, chair of the Durham Tech Board of Trustees, applauded the work the Foundation has done and the impact it will have on the College.

“The benefits for students and employees as a result of the grants the Foundation staff secured will have long-lasting, positive effects,” she said. “I congratulate the Foundation and thank the staff for what their record-breaking year means for the College.” 

Ellen Shannon, chairwoman of the Foundation Board of Directors, said the grants reflect the Foundation’s commitment to providing opportunities for students and employees.  

“The opportunities these grants have created will help expand services for students, provide enhanced workforce pathways and support continued excellence at Durham Tech through new initiatives,” Shannon said.  

“Durham Tech aims to power workforce and economic development in the Triangle. The Foundation powers Durham Tech. The funds the Foundation team raised significantly enhances the work we do to increase student success, connect employers with talent, and support our faculty and staff,” said Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton.