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Financial Aid

Dollar-for-dollar match skyrockets for need-based financial aid

In FY21, donors pledged $10.5 million as part of a need-based financial aid initiative that matches dollar-for-dollar, the Lord 100 Challenge, for a total of $21 million to support full and partial scholarships for undergraduate students.

August 30, 2021 | by Kyle Simmons

The LORD 100 Challenge is an extraordinary financial aid initiative that began in 2019 to help deserving students afford the cost of attendance regardless of their ability to pay. This was made possible by the sale of the LORD Corporation, leading to $261 million to fund education and research at Duke and three other leading institutions.

Duke is distributing full and partial scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering. It also is supporting undergraduate students pursuing a degree through the Nicholas School of the Environment or the Sanford School of Public Policy.

In short, it touches every aspect of the cherished undergraduate experience at Duke.

A total $50 million match was set by Duke to leverage an additional $50 million in philanthropic support for this need-based challenge fund. What inspires donors most about this challenge is the historic level of support it will provide — and that it comes at a critical moment for the university and the students who attend it.