History
Organization history
DMACF was established in April 1989, funded by $2.25 million given by the Durham Merchants Association. The Durham Merchants Association was originally formed by downtown businesses to share credit information and to promote Durham's downtown retail market. It had a membership of almost 900. With the growth of new shopping centers and malls that do their own marketing, the need for common promotion by a merchants association dwindled. Members of the association decided to sell its major assets, disband as an organization, and establish the DMACF to benefit the Durham community.
Since its inception, DMACF has contributed over $4 million to help nonprofits meet the needs of Durham's people.