Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is one of the largest private foundations in the United States, with assets of approximately $79.9 billion — primarily held in Eli Lilly and Company stock. Founded in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli Lilly and J.K. Lilly Jr., the Endowment operates from a distinctly place-based and values-centered grantmaking philosophy it describes as "conservatively progressive." This means the Endowment honors established charitable organizations and traditions while also supporting fundamental rethinking when existing models face irrelevance or obsolescence.

Core Program Areas

The Endowment concentrates nearly all of its grantmaking within three pillars:

1. Community Development — Strengthening Indianapolis and Indiana communities, with secondary support for compelling national causes aligned with founder values. Key subprograms address low-income neighborhoods in Indianapolis, disaster relief (invitation-only nationally), and Indiana community foundations through the GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) matching program.

2. Education and Youth — Focused squarely on Indiana. This includes early childhood through higher education, workforce readiness, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (full-tuition for one student per Indiana county at any accredited Indiana institution), and Indy Summer Youth Programs. Recent major initiatives include Charting the Future for Indiana colleges (~$138 million over several years), the Marion County K-12 Initiative, Teacher Creativity Fellowships, and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education.

3. Religion — The broadest national footprint. The Endowment supports Christian ministry broadly — strengthening congregational vitality, pastoral leadership, preaching quality, Christian education for children, rural ministry, Hispanic pastoral leadership, and public understanding of religion. This is the primary domain where unsolicited national proposals may be considered.

Grantmaking Philosophy in Practice

The Endowment does not operate programs itself — it funds through grants exclusively. It places exceptional weight on experienced, established organizations while also recognizing new and emerging charitable organizations that show promise. It provides not just money but consulting support, technical assistance, research and evaluation, and peer networking through convenings.

The Endowment operates a two-tier entry system: (1) preliminary letters of inquiry submitted by mail only, and (2) open initiative RFPs for specific time-limited initiatives. Most national education and community development funding is by invitation only. The religion program has the broadest openness to unsolicited interest.

Grant Volume and Size

Based on IRS 990 data and published recent grants, Lilly Endowment disburses grants at substantial scale. With assets of ~$79.9 billion, the Endowment's 5% minimum payout requirement implies annual grantmaking capacity of approximately $3.5-4 billion. The Endowment has historically made roughly 1,800-2,000 grants per year.

Key grant size data from the foundation record: - Median grant: $33,500 - Average grant: $431,468 - Minimum observed: $50 - Maximum observed: $100,000,000 - Total grants in dataset: 1,830

This bimodal distribution reflects two parallel streams: (1) many small operational/equipment/summer-program grants in the $2,000-$50,000 range for Indianapolis nonprofits, and (2) large strategic initiative grants in the $1 million-$22 million range for national religion and higher education priorities.

Initiative-Based Grant Patterns

The Endowment frequently structures major funding as competitive initiatives with defined eligibility windows. Examples from recent activity: - Charting the Future (Indiana higher ed): $138+ million total, multi-year planning and implementation grants - Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative (theological schools): $8 million to Association of Theological Schools - Weave: The Social Fabric Project (Aspen Institute): $22.4 million single grant - National Youth and Young Adult Initiative on Faith and Service: grants of ~$5 million each - Compelling Preaching Initiative: grants of ~$1.25 million to seminaries and preaching institutes - Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative II: grants of ~$1.2 million - National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life: grants of $50,000 (planning) to $5 million (implementation) - Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative: grants of $50,000 (planning) to $6.3 million (implementation)

Funding Cycle

The Board reviews proposals in March, June, September, November, and December. The full review cycle from preliminary letter submission to grant decision typically takes 3-6 months. There is no single annual deadline — the rolling nature means organizations can submit at any point, though submissions in late fall compete in a more compressed schedule.

Geographic Concentration

• Indianapolis/Marion County: Very high density of smaller operational grants to local nonprofits
• Indiana statewide: Major initiatives in higher education, community foundations, scholarship programs, youth
• National (religion only): Large grants to seminaries, denominations, mission organizations, media outlets across all 50 states
• National (invitation only): Education access for underrepresented groups; disaster relief; philanthropic infrastructure organizations

The following table compares Lilly Endowment against similarly-sized major U.S. private foundations on key dimensions relevant to prospective applicants:

Key Differentiators

Lilly's average grant ($431K) is significantly higher than Ford ($265K), Hewlett ($292K), and RWJF ($153K), reflecting large strategic initiative grants that pull the average up. The median of $33,500 reveals a more modest baseline for operational grants.

Lilly is more geographically concentrated than any peer — Gates, Ford, and Hewlett are genuinely national or global. Lilly's community and education funding is almost exclusively Indiana. This concentration can be an advantage for Indiana-based organizations.

Religion is Lilly's most nationally accessible program area — unlike peers who typically fund secular development, Lilly's explicit Christian mission focus has no comparable counterpart among top-20 foundations. This creates a near-unique opening for faith-based organizations.

Lilly is more receptive to established institutions than emerging organizations compared to Gates (which makes large bets on innovation) or Ford (which actively supports organizing and advocacy). Lilly rewards track record and organizational stability.

Lilly does not accept online grant applications — unique among major foundations, its mail-only preliminary letter requirement creates a procedural filter that reduces volume and favors organizations with established program officer or consultant relationships.

2024-2025 Grantmaking Highlights

Based on the Endowment's published recent grants database (2024), the following patterns characterize current activity:

Religion (National — Most Active) - America Media (NY): $5 million for National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (TX): $5 million for Storytelling Project; $1.25 million for Nurturing Children Initiative - Andrews University (MI): $6.3 million for Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative - American Baptist College (TN): $2 million for Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative - Appalachia Service Project (TN): $5 million for National Youth and Young Adult Initiative on Faith and Service - Allen Temple Leadership Institute (CA): $1.25 million for Compelling Preaching Initiative - Association of Theological Schools (PA): $8 million for Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative 2025 - Aspen Institute (DC): $22.4 million for Weave: The Social Fabric Project - American Red Cross (DC): $10 million for Services to the Armed Forces capacity; $5 million for disaster relief

Education and Youth (Indiana Focus) - American Indian College Fund (CO): $4 million for Indigenous Early Childhood Education Program - Adams County Community Foundation: $750,000 for GIFT Phase VIII Matching Fund - American Council on Education (DC): $500,000 for military learner/prior learning credit pilot - American Camp Association (IN): $999,029 for camp programs on Indiana college campuses - Multiple Marion County schools: $50,000 each for K-12 Initiative planning grants

Community Development (Indianapolis/Indiana) - American Red Cross: $5 million disaster relief - Armed Services YMCA: $3 million capacity building - Aspire Indiana Health (IN): $1 million capital campaign for Progress House - 100 Black Men of Indianapolis: $255,000 program/operating support

Open Initiatives as of March 2026 Three initiatives are currently open and accepting applications: 1. Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program — Indiana K-12 educators statewide 2. Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education — Indiana colleges and universities 3. Exploring Christian Practices Initiative — faith-based organizations nationally

Strategic Signals Continued investment in Christian media and storytelling suggests the Endowment views narrative/communications as a strategic gap in religious vitality work. The $22.4 million Weave grant to Aspen Institute signals interest in social cohesion bridging community development and faith. Rural ministry received multi-million-dollar investments in 2024, signaling sustained focus on geographic equity within the faith sector. AI in higher education marks a new thematic opening for Indiana institutions.

Strategic Advice for Prospective Applicants

1. Identify Your Entry Point Correctly

Lilly funds through three channels: (a) open initiatives with RFPs, (b) unsolicited preliminary letters (primarily for religion and Indianapolis community development), and (c) invitation-only grants. Know which channel applies before approaching.

If you are an Indiana college or university, a religion-focused nonprofit, or an Indianapolis community organization, you may submit an unsolicited preliminary letter. If you are a national organization outside religion, you almost certainly need an invitation or must respond to a specific open initiative RFP. Check the Open Initiatives page at lillyendowment.org before any other action — three are currently active.

2. Mail-Only Preliminary Letters: Take the Format Seriously

The Endowment explicitly rejects unsolicited online submissions. Your two-page preliminary letter must arrive by regular or overnight mail at: Lilly Endowment Inc., 2801 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46208. Letters sent via email or web form will not be considered.

The two-page letter should cover: (1) description of your organization, (2) the project you propose, (3) the specific issue or need being addressed, and (4) the funding amount requested. Keep it exactly two pages.

3. Align with the Conservatively Progressive Philosophy

Lilly responds to proposals that demonstrate both organizational track record (established credibility, proven programs) and willingness to rethink approaches in response to changing circumstances. Frame your proposal as an experienced organization addressing an evolving challenge — not simply as a new idea, and not simply as ongoing operations.

4. Religion Applicants: Emphasize Congregational Impact

For religion grants, the Endowment's ultimate currency is congregational vitality and pastoral effectiveness. Even for seminary, denominational, or national ministry organization proposals, connect the work explicitly back to how it strengthens local churches, pastors, and lay leaders. Proposals that stay at the institutional level without grounding in congregational impact tend to score lower.

5. Indiana Applicants: Leverage the Geographic Advantage

If your organization is Indiana-based, you have access to a dramatically wider range of funding than out-of-state applicants. Marion County K-12 institutions, Indiana colleges and universities, Indiana community foundations, and Indianapolis nonprofit service organizations all have active grant streams. Review the full program taxonomy at lillyendowment.org/our-work/ and identify the most specific matching sub-program.

6. Avoid the Hard Exclusions

Applications for the following will not be funded: individual scholarships or fellowships (use Community Scholarship Program channels instead), healthcare projects, mass media/broadcast projects (unless invited), endowment building, public library capital projects, arts and culture outside Indianapolis, or human services outside Indiana (unless invited nationally).

7. Build a Relationship Before the Letter

The Endowment's program officers carry significant weight in the review process. For religion applicants especially, connecting with the relevant program officer through professional networks (Association of Theological Schools, denomination headquarters, Indianapolis philanthropy convenings) before submitting increases the chance of advancing to full proposal stage.

8. Timing Within the Review Cycle

The Board meets in March, June, September, November, and December. Submissions entering the queue in January or February target the March or June board meeting. Allow 3-6 months from preliminary letter to final decision. Urgent funding timelines are not a good fit for this foundation.