Lilly Endowment’s 2025–2026 Grant Opportunities: Empowering Indiana’s Communities for Lasting Change
A Legacy of Strengthening Communities
Lilly Endowment, Inc. remains one of America’s largest private philanthropic organizations, investing billions into Indiana’s growth through programs that empower nonprofits, schools, and civic leaders.
In 2025 and beyond, the foundation continues this momentum through its GIFT VIII and upcoming GIFT IX initiatives, community capacity-building grants, and partnerships that connect social development with measurable health and education outcomes.
Foundation Focus Areas
Lilly Endowment’s grantmaking centers on three strategic pillars that frequently intersect with public health and wellness goals:
- Community Development : Strengthening Indiana’s local foundations, improving access to essential services, and enhancing residents’ quality of life.
- Education : Supporting early learning, leadership development, and career readiness programs.
- Religion : Empowering congregations and faith-based organizations that build social cohesion and address spiritual and emotional health.
Many of Lilly Endowment’s grants also advance community health priorities, supporting initiatives that foster youth well-being, expand mental health access, and strengthen family stability.
Who Can Apply
The foundation primarily considers proposals from:
- Indiana-based nonprofits and community foundations engaged in social or economic development.
- Faith organizations implementing community or youth programs.
- Collaborative partnerships that unite civic, education, and service organizations to solve shared local challenges.
Funding Scale and Duration
- Through GIFT VIII (2024–2025), Lilly Endowment invested $171 million across 30 Indiana community foundations.
- Grants ranged from $467,000 to $20 million, with both Matching Fund and Implementation Grant components.
- Typical funding terms span 2–4 years, allowing time for measurable, sustained impact.
Real-World Funding in Action
December 2024 – GIFT VIII Implementation Round
Wayne County Foundation (Richmond, IN):
Received a $1.5 million Matching Fund Grant and a $5 million Implementation Grant for wellness-driven projects such as park revitalization and community recreation improvements.
Community Foundation of Bloomington & Monroe County (CFBMC):
Secured a $7.83 million Implementation Grant to expand early childhood and family-support programs across ten counties in the Indiana Uplands.
November 2023 – Matching Fund Phase
Lilly Endowment disbursed $133.8 million through GIFT VIII Matching Fund Grants to build local philanthropic assets.
Application Process and 2026 Funding Outlook
Step 1: Review Current Initiatives
Visit the For Grantseekers page to review eligibility and submission guidance.
Step 2: Align Your Mission
Frame proposals around community development, education, or religion while emphasizing indirect benefits to public health, youth well-being, or mental resilience.
Step 3: Engage Local Partners
Collaborate with community foundations, schools, and faith groups to strengthen proposal credibility and reach.
Step 4: Demonstrate Measurable Outcomes
Include baseline metrics, success indicators, and evaluation plans—showing how your work improves family stability or community wellness.
Step 5: Apply or Submit Inquiry
Applications are generally invited through initiative-specific cycles.
Portal : https://lillyendowment.org
Upcoming 2026 Opportunities
1. GIFT IX Initiative (2026 Cycle)
- Total Funding : Up to $271.5 million statewide.
- Key Dates : Community Support Grants open Nov 6 2025; Matching Grant proposals accepted June 1–30 2026.
- Eligibility : Indiana community foundations and local partner organizations.
- Focus : Sustainability projects, education access, mental-health and youth-wellness infrastructure.
2. Capital Project Initiative for Residential Youth Camps
- Announced : April 2025; Phase 3 awards expected April 2026.
- Funding : Up to $166 million
- Purpose : Help Indiana youth camps modernize facilities, improve safety, and expand outdoor and mental-wellness programming.
3. Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP 2026)
- Opening : County applications begin July 2025 (e.g., Warrick County).
- Scope : Scholarships for Indiana students demonstrating leadership and community service.
Building a Strong Proposal
To stand out in 2026, applicants should:
- Show measurable local outcomes in health, education, or youth services.
- Provide a collaborative plan across sectors (schools, nonprofits, civic groups).
- Include evaluation tools—surveys, public-health metrics, or economic-impact data.
- Present a long-term sustainability plan backed by matching funds or partnerships.
Enhancing Readiness with Pillar by SocialRoots.ai
To meet modern reporting and accountability standards, nonprofits need credible data systems. Pillar by SocialRoots.ai simplifies grant compliance by:
- Aggregating program data across communities.
- Generating visual dashboards for funder reports.
- Automating progress tracking against KPIs.
- Demonstrating impact with verified numbers and case stories.
With Pillar, nonprofits can confidently present a transparent, data-driven story that resonates with funders like Lilly Endowment.
Conclusion:
For more than eight decades, Lilly Endowment, Inc. has transformed Indiana’s civic landscape through strategic, values-driven giving. As 2026 approaches, its new initiatives—GIFT IX and the Youth Camp Capital Project program—signal even greater opportunities for organizations dedicated to education, wellness, and community development.
By pairing visionary proposals with the analytical power of Pillar by SocialRoots.ai, Indiana nonprofits can not only attract funding but deliver measurable, lasting impact—building stronger, healthier communities for generations to come.