The mission focuses on the belief that the arts are essential to creating strong, vibrant communities. They view a dynamic cultural sector as a catalyst for growth by attracting businesses, retaining visitors, and strengthening neighborhoods through the preservation of culture and memory. Additionally, the arts are seen as vital for health and well-being, fostering community through diverse engagements, providing personal enjoyment, and giving voice to the human condition.
The K-12 Education Program by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation aims to support student success and learning as well as arts education, with a special focus on underserved students. Key goals include equipping students to succeed in college or careers, closing the academic opportunity gap, and providing high-quality arts programs. The Foundation seeks to fund organizations that create learning environments fostering academic achievement, creativity, and confidence. It supports professional development for teachers and teaching artists and prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its grantmaking. The Foundation offers two types of grants: Operating Support Grants, which are majorly shifted to provide operating support aligning with the foundation's funding goals with a two-year grant of $20,000; and Opportunity Grants, offering one-year $5,000 grants for smaller or larger organizations, with the latter supporting new initiatives and innovation. The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting organizations led by people of color and those whose boards and staff reflect the populations they serve, focusing on organizations in Chatham, Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties in North Carolina.
Priority is given to smaller entities that have annual operational costs below $300,000. However, organizations with operational costs over $300,000 are still eligible to apply, specifically for the purpose of introducing a new initiative.