Foundation directory
Lilly Endowment Inc Grants
Private foundation · EIN 35-0868122 · IRS 990-PF filings through tax year 2025
- Total grants paid
- $6.1B
- Grants reported
- 4,093
- Median grant
- $50K
- Future commitments
- $560.8M
Giving by tax year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,285 | $3.9B |
| 2024 | 1,808 | $2.3B |
Where Lilly Endowment Inc gives
States of grant recipients reported on the foundation's 990-PF filings, by dollars received.
Largest reported grants
The biggest individual grants on file, as reported by the foundation to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Tax year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDIANA LIFELONG LEARNING PROJECTS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | INDIANA K-12 SCHOOLS INITIATIVE | 2025 | $400M |
| INDIANA COMMUNITY DEVELPMNTPROJECTS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | STATEWIDE COMMUNITY PARKS INITIATIVE | 2025 | $400M |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BLOOMINGTON, IN | IU LAUNCH ACCELERATOR FOR BIOSCIENCE | 2024 | $138M |
| NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL PARKS CAMPAIGN | 2024 | $100M |
| INDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | STRATEGIC ENHANCEMENTS TO READI 2.0 | 2024 | $100M |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING FOR NATL NETWORK | 2025 | $75M |
| NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | ARCHIVES PRESERVATION | 2025 | $57M |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC | NOTRE DAME, IN | DELTA NETWORK: AN AI PROJECT | 2025 | $50.9M |
| UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT FOR UNCF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | 2024 | $50M |
| INDIANA YOUTH INSTITUTE INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | STRENGTHENING YOUTH PROGRAMS IN IN | 2025 | $48M |
| CICP FOUNDATION INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CICP CHARITBLE EDUCL & SCIENTFC PROG | 2025 | $44M |
| STATE OF IN-DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATN | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | K-12 EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS | 2025 | $40M |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | CELEBRATING AMERICAS 250TH PROJECT | 2024 | $40M |
| INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RES | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | SUPPORT FOR INDIANA STATE PARKS | 2024 | $40M |
| NATIONAL TRUST HISTORIC PRESERVATN IN THE UNITED STATES | WASHINGTON, DC | PRESERVING BLACK CHURCHES PROJECT | 2024 | $40M |
| PERRY TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | MARION COUNTY K-12 EDUCATION INIT | 2025 | $40M |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | FORUM FOR CONGREGATIONAL LIFE PROJ | 2025 | $40M |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTON SALEM, NC | EDUCATING CHARACTER INITIATIVE | 2025 | $35M |
| BELMONT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | CREATIVE ARTS COLLECTIVE | 2024 | $32.1M |
| DEPAUW UNIVERSITY | GREENCASTLE, IN | COLLEGES & COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE | 2024 | $32M |
| ROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | TERRE HAUTE, IN | COLLEGES & COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE | 2024 | $30.5M |
| CHURCH BENEFITS ASSOCIATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | CLERGY HEALTH AND WELLNESS HUB PROJ | 2025 | $30M |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA | ATLANTA, GA | YOUTH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT INIT | 2024 | $30M |
| HANOVER COLLEGE TRUSTEES | HANOVER, IN | COLLEGES & COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE | 2024 | $30M |
| INDIANA WHITE RIVER STATE PARK DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | WHITE RIVER STATE PARK EXPANSION | 2024 | $30M |
How to apply
This foundation publishes application instructions on its latest 990-PF and does not report restricting giving to preselected organizations. See more foundations that accept applications.
- Contact
- PROGRAM OFFICE
- Address
- LILLY ENDOWMENT INC 2801 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET INDIANAPOLIS, IN, 46208
- Phone
- 3179245471
- Deadlines
- APPLICATION PROCESS IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION HAS A REQUEST THAT FITS WITHIN OUR G
- Application materials
- GRANT GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES, FORMULATED OVER THE YEARS BY OUR FOUNDERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GOVERN OUR GRANTMAKING DECISIONS. WE CONSIDER PROPOSALS IN THREE MAIN PROGRAM AREAS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND YOUTH, AND RELIGION. AREAS OF INTEREST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTMAKING HAS A KEY FOCUS ON ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIANAPOLIS AND INDIANA. WE GRANT FUNDS FOR HUMAN AND SOCIAL NEEDS, CITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSING, AND ARTS AND CULTURE IN INDIANAPOLIS. WE SEEK TO ADVANCE THE PROSPERITY OF ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY POVERTY AND OTHER SOCIETAL CHALLENGES. ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL, WE ROUTINELY OFFER INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AND UNITED WAYS. NATIONALLY, THE ENDOWMENT PROVIDES SUPPORT ON AN INVITATIONAL BASIS FOR COMPELLING OTHER CAUSES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR AREAS OF INTEREST, SUCH AS DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFO
- Restrictions
- LIMITATIONS THE ENDOWMENT GENERALLY DOES NOT SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - LOANS OR CASH GRANTS TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. VIRTUALLY ALL GRANT MONEY IS AWARDED TO CHARITABLE ENTITIES. WE DO NOT ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH PERSONAL OR BUSINESS-RELATED FINANCES. - REQUESTS TO DISCHARGE PRE-EXISTING DEBTS OF INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS. - HEALTHCARE PROJECTS. - MASS MEDIA PROJECTS. THE ENDOWMENT DOES NOT TYPICALLY FUND MASS MEDIA PROJECTS AND LIMITS CONSIDERATION TO PROJECTS ON AN INVITATIONAL BASIS THAT FALL SQUARELY WITHIN OUR SPECIFIC PROGRAM AREAS. - ENDOWMENTS OR ENDOWED CHAIRS. THE ENDOWMENT DOES NOT FUND ENDOWMENT OR ENDOWED CHAIRS, EXCEPT IN SPECIAL INITIATIVES OR IN UNUSUAL CASES INVOLVING LONGSTANDING GRANTEES. - PUBLIC LIBRARIES. EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL INITIATIVES, THE ENDOWMENT REGULARLY DECLINES GRANTS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES OUTSIDE MARION COUNTY, IND. REQUESTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS THAT INVOLVE BUILDING CAMPAIGNS, ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE, HUMAN SE
About this data
Figures are aggregated from Lilly Endowment Inc's IRS Form 990-PF electronic filings (2 filings on file, most recent tax year 2025). Totals reflect grants the foundation reported as paid, and can lag the current year because foundations file annually and often on extension. Source: IRS 990-PF e-file archive.