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Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.7M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5.7M - $6.3M (varies annually)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Indianapolis, Indiana and surrounding areas
  • Total Assets: Approximately $95-130M

Contact Details

Primary Contact:

  • Location: 2751 Centerville Rd Ste 400, Wilmington, DE 19808-1641
  • Trustee: PNC Bank, N.A. (acting as corporate trustee)

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funds.

Overview

The Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation was established in 2002 to continue the philanthropic legacy of Ruth Lilly (1915-2009), the last surviving great-grandchild of Eli Lilly, founder of the Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical firm. The foundation received additional funding from her estate in 2009, estimated between $125-150 million. With current assets of approximately $95-130 million, the foundation distributes $5.7-6.3 million annually to preselected charitable organizations. Ruth Lilly gave away nearly $800 million during her lifetime, primarily supporting arts, education, health, and environmental causes in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana. The foundation is administered by PNC Bank as trustee and is governed by members of the Lilly family who continue her philanthropic vision.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides general operating support to preselected charitable organizations. Grant amounts vary significantly year to year:

  • 2024: $5,670,823
  • 2023: $4,561,771
  • 2022: $6,319,856

All grants are marked as "GENERAL OPERATING" support in the foundation's tax filings, with specific recipient details listed in attached schedules not publicly available in summary databases.

Priority Areas

Based on Ruth Lilly's lifetime giving patterns and foundation activities, priority areas include:

Arts & Culture:

  • Visual arts institutions and art education (e.g., Indianapolis Museum of Art, Herron School of Art and Design)
  • Performing arts organizations (symphony orchestras, ballet, opera, theater)
  • Literary arts and poetry programs

Education:

  • Higher education institutions, particularly in Indiana
  • Art and design education
  • Philanthropy education and research

Health & Medical:

  • Disease prevention and health education
  • Global health initiatives
  • Medical research institutions

Historic Preservation:

  • Cemetery restoration and historic monument preservation (e.g., Crown Hill Cemetery)

Community Organizations:

  • Youth development programs
  • Public broadcasting
  • Museums and cultural institutions in Indianapolis

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from any organizations, regardless of mission alignment.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Arden Trust Company (Trustee, compensation $259,921)
  • Josiah Lilly IV (Trustee, compensation $135,000)
  • Josiah Lilly V (Trustee, compensation $165,000)

Committee Members:

  • Megan Marsac (Committee Member, compensation $75,000)
  • George Lilly (Committee Member, compensation $75,000)

The foundation is structured as a family-controlled philanthropic organization with PNC Bank serving as the corporate trustee. PNC administers approximately 200 perpetual charitable trusts and private foundations, issuing approximately $65 million in grants annually across health, social services, education, religion, and the arts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations that align with the foundation's mission and Ruth Lilly's philanthropic legacy. The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with recipient organizations rather than conducting open application cycles.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation operates through trustee discretion with a closed grant-making process. Organizations are preselected by the trustees based on alignment with Ruth Lilly's philanthropic interests and the foundation's mission. Given the family governance structure and PNC's role as corporate trustee, grants appear to be awarded to organizations with established connections to the Lilly family's philanthropic network or institutions that were important to Ruth Lilly during her lifetime.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decisions are made by trustees on their own schedule for preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can provide insight:

Historical Giving Patterns: Ruth Lilly's lifetime philanthropy focused heavily on Indianapolis institutions, particularly those in the arts, education, and health sectors. Organizations that received her support during her lifetime or have connections to her philanthropic interests may be considered for ongoing support.

Focus on Ruth Lilly's Interests:

  • Organizations Ruth Lilly personally supported during her lifetime
  • Indianapolis-based or Indiana-based institutions
  • Arts organizations, particularly visual arts, performing arts, and poetry
  • Educational institutions, especially those connected to art, design, or philanthropy
  • Health and medical institutions focused on disease prevention and global health
  • Historic preservation projects with Indiana connections

Long-term Relationships: The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with select organizations rather than seeking new grantees, suggesting a preference for sustained impact through continued support of trusted institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding from organizations it has not preselected
  • Family Governance: The foundation is controlled by members of the Lilly family (Josiah Lilly IV, Josiah Lilly V, and other family members) who make trustee decisions
  • Indianapolis Focus: Historical giving strongly favors Indianapolis and Indiana-based organizations, particularly those Ruth Lilly supported during her lifetime
  • Arts & Education Priority: The foundation's legacy shows particular strength in supporting arts institutions, higher education, and cultural organizations
  • General Operating Support: Grants are provided for general operating purposes rather than specific projects
  • Substantial Asset Base: With assets between $95-130 million, the foundation has capacity for significant ongoing grantmaking
  • Not Accessible to New Organizations: Unless your organization already has an established relationship with the foundation or connections to the Lilly family's philanthropic network, funding is not available

References

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