Lilly Endowment Incorporated
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that supports initiatives in religion, education, and community development. The official site publishes grant guidelines, news, recent grants, annual reports, and contact information.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Charitable organizations, educational institutions, community foundations, or faith-based groups whose work aligns with the Endowment’s program areas (community development, education/youth, or religion), especially projects that serve Indiana or fit a larger statewide or national education/community initiative.
Good Fit
- • Project clearly aligns with community development, education/youth, or religion program areas.
- • Activities primarily benefit Indiana residents or are part of a statewide initiative.
- • Requests for operating support, capacity building, program expansion, or capital projects that match published initiative priorities.
- • Demonstrated organizational readiness for large-scale or long-term investments for transformational projects.
- • Willingness to follow the foundation’s preliminary letter process and application guidelines.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year reached recipients across 47 states, but dollars were concentrated in Indiana, which received about 61% of the total award amount.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a very broad recipient set—nearly 1,500 distinct recipients and almost 2,000 grants—including many small community awards and larger institutional grants, indicating substantial institutional and mission diversity.
New Applicants
Behavioral evidence shows many new entrants in 2023 (871 new recipients, ~59% of grantees), and the foundation publishes guidelines and accepts preliminary letters by mail, supporting a realistic path for unfamiliar organizations to be considered.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
