Lilly Endowment Inc.
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Lilly Endowment is a very large foundation, having paid $2,260,591,222 in total giving in its most recent filing, so a modest application from a small nonprofit will sit alongside grants as large as $150,000,000, though about 8 in 10 of its 4,956 grants to organisations fall between $900 and $1,250,000 and the median grant was $50,000, so most successful applicants should size their ask accordingly.
- Its work concentrates on community development, education and youth, and religion, with community-development and elementary/secondary-education work given priority where it improves quality of life in Indianapolis and Indiana; organisations outside Indianapolis should note that requests for building campaigns, elementary/secondary education, arts and culture, human services, general operations or neighbourhood development are not funded except as part of special initiatives.
- The Endowment does not fund loans or cash grants to private individuals, discharging pre-existing debts, healthcare projects, mass media projects (except invitational ones squarely within its programme areas), endowments or endowed chairs (except special initiatives or unusual cases involving longstanding grantees), or public libraries outside Marion County, Ind. (except special initiatives); organisations whose request falls into these categories should not apply.
- The process starts with a preliminary letter sent by regular or overnight mail, with the Endowment responding in writing and possibly inviting a full proposal, and it accepts applications on a rolling basis.
- With 77% of grant dollars in its latest filing going to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, the pattern suggests a relationship-led funder, so first-time applicants should expect the preliminary letter stage to be an important first step rather than a formality.
Overview
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a US private foundation based in Indianapolis, IN.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 6 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Lilly Endowment’s three main areas are community development, education and youth, and religion. Its community-development work seeks to improve quality of life in Indianapolis and Indiana, addressing human and social needs, neighbourhood revitalisation, low- and moderate-income housing, and arts and culture in Indianapolis, while supporting community foundations and United Ways statewide and selected causes nationally by invitation. Its education and youth work aims to raise educational attainment and meaningful economic opportunities for Indiana residents, strengthen schools and higher education, and support youth development; some educational and youth efforts across the United States are invitational. Its religion grantmaking seeks to deepen Christian life nationally by supporting congregational vitality, pastoral leadership, theological schools and religious networks, while fostering public understanding of religion.
Themes
- Community development
- Education and youth
- Religion
Geographic Focus
United States. Priority: Indianapolis; Indiana.
What They Don't Fund
- Loans or cash grants to private individuals
- Requests to discharge pre-existing debts of individuals or organizations
- Healthcare projects
- Mass media projects, except projects considered on an invitational basis that fall squarely within its specific program areas
- Endowments or endowed chairs, except special initiatives or unusual cases involving longstanding grantees
- Public libraries outside Marion County, Ind., except for special initiatives
- Requests from organizations outside of Indianapolis that involve building campaigns, elementary/secondary education, arts and culture, human services, general operations or neighborhood development, except as part of special initiatives
How to apply
Organisations first send a preliminary letter by regular or overnight mail. The Endowment responds in writing; if further consideration is warranted, it may request a full proposal.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 4,956 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Endowment gives priority to efforts improving quality of life in Indianapolis and Indiana, especially community-development and elementary/secondary-education grants.
- It seeks to advance the success of all students, including those from low-income households and students facing societal challenges.
- Its youth programmes aim to serve all young people, including those affected by poverty and other societal challenges.
- For religion, it values a broad range of Christian communities and traditions and seeks excellent pastoral leadership.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 12%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 12%
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations Lilly Endowment Inc. had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Canada).
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 1,704 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Indiana University Foundation · Iu launch accelerator for bioscience$138,000,0002024 tax year
- National Park Foundation · Support for national parks campaign$100,000,0002024 tax year
- Indiana Economic Development Corporation · Strategic enhancements to readi 2.0$100,000,0002024 tax year
- United Negro College Fund · Support for uncf capital campaign$50,000,0002024 tax year
- National Trust Historic Preservatn In The United States · Preserving black churches project$40,000,0002024 tax year
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources · Support for indiana state parks$40,000,0002024 tax year
- Smithsonian Institution · Celebrating americas 250th project$40,000,0002024 tax year
- Belmont University · Creative arts collective$32,119,7492024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John D Witvliet — Director
- David N Shane — Director
- Mary K Lisher — Director
- Rebecca E Lilly — Director
- Eli Lilly II — Director
- John C Lechleiter — Director
- Charles E Golden — Director
- William G Enright — Director
- Craig Dykstra — Director
- Clarence Crain — Director
- Daniel P Carmichael — Director
- Diane M Stenson — VP & Treasurer
- Ted Maple — VP Education
- Ronni N Kloth — VP Community Development
- Jaclyn P Dowd — VP Evaluation
- Christopher L Coble — VP Religion
- Peter A Buck — VP Investment & General Manager
- Ben W Blanton — VP Secretary & General Counsel
- Jennett M Hill — President
- N Clay Robbins — Chairman & CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,372,463,741 | $1,324,796,496 | $40,811,049,388 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,580,523,182 | $1,527,002,818 | $62,192,685,769 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,328,546,370 | $2,260,591,222 | $79,917,437,633 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Lilly Endowment Inc.?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (317) 924-5471
- Indianapolis, IN
- lillyendowment.org
Applying to Lilly Endowment Inc.?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (317) 924-5471
- Indianapolis, IN
- lillyendowment.org