Funding search · EIN 350868122 · Indianapolis, IN

Lilly Endowment

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

7,478
grants reported
$8.93B
total given
2022–2025
filing years
$50,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20222025. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

giftemployeematchingyouthinitsummerteacher

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Marion County and statewide Indiana K-12 schools, including charters and parochial
  • Theological education, clergy formation, congregational vitality nationwide
  • Indiana community development: parks, community foundations, youth programs
  • Character development and vocation in higher education
  • National capacity building for large charities and military service organizations

Typical grant

Median grant is $50,000 and the middle half runs $8,000 to $750,000, so most of the file is modest Indiana community giving. The money, though, is concentrated in a small tier of eight and nine figure initiative grants: $400 million each for statewide parks and Indiana K-12, $10 to $50 million per institution under named initiatives like Pathways for Tomorrow and the Marion County K-12 Education Initiative. Repeat giving is common, with institutions like Duke, Fuller Theological Seminary, and several Indiana community foundations appearing multiple times in a single year under different initiatives.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • PATHWAYS FOR TOMORROW INITIATIVE
  • MARION COUNTY K-12 EDUCATION INIT
  • YOUTH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
  • CAPACITY BUILDING
  • THRIVING CONGREGATIONS INITIATIVE

Positioning adjacent work

  • Tie work to an existing named initiative; the Endowment funds cohorts, not one-off proposals.
  • If your work touches character or vocation formation in undergraduates, connect to Wake Forest and CIC precedents.
  • Indiana-based applicants should frame projects as statewide or Marion County benefit, not institutional need.
  • Ask at the $50,000 to $750,000 range unless you are a national intermediary with cohort reach.

Worth knowing: Indiana takes 4,896 of 7,478 grants, and Indianapolis institutions dominate the largest checks, so out-of-state applicants realistically need a religion, theological education, or national capacity-building angle. Giving is invitation-driven and relationship-heavy: the nine-figure awards go to entities the Endowment itself created or has funded for decades.

19 grants matching “beautifully · $17.0M

  • $3.8M

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Comprehensive litter reductn effort

  • $3.0M

    Keep America Beautiful · Stamford, CT · 2025

    Capacity building support

  • $325,000

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    General operating support

  • $33,454

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Summer youth program

  • $10,000

    Inner Beauty Program · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Summer youth program

  • $5,000

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Summer youth program

  • $900

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Employee matching gift(s)

  • $325,000

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    General operating support

  • $8,000

    Inner Beauty Program · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Summer youth program

  • $3,500

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Summer youth program

  • $900

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Employee matching gift(s)

  • $5.0M

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Endowment, capital improv & dvlpmt

  • $325,000

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    General operating support

  • $3,500

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Summer youth program

  • $900

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Employee matching gift(s)

  • $3.8M

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Comprehensive litter reductn efforts

  • $325,000

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    General operating support

  • $3,000

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Summer youth program

  • $1,800

    Keep Indianapolis Beautiful · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Employee matching gift(s)

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Indiana Lifelong Learning Projects2 grants · $400.3M
  • Indiana Community Develpmntprojects1 grant · $400.0M
  • Indiana Economic Development Corp3 grants · $250.5M
  • Indiana University Foundation44 grants · $184.7M
  • University of Notre Dame Du Lac35 grants · $157.1M
  • Purdue Research Foundation12 grants · $133.3M
  • National Park Foundation4 grants · $103.1M
  • United Negro College Fund19 grants · $103.1M
  • Duke University17 grants · $95.3M
  • Indiana Association of United Ways5 grants · $95.2M

Giving over time

$1.32B
2022
$1.53B
2023
$2.25B
2024
$3.84B
2025

Grant history

The 100 largest of 7,478 grants.

  • $400.0M

    Indiana Community Develpmntprojects · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Statewide community parks initiative

  • $400.0M

    Indiana Lifelong Learning Projects · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Indiana k-12 schools initiative

  • $150.0M

    Indiana Economic Development Corp · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Strategic enhancements readi 2.0

  • $138.0M

    Indiana University Foundation · Bloomington, IN · 2024

    Iu launch accelerator for bioscience

  • $100.0M

    Indiana Economic Development Corp · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Strategic enhancements to readi 2.0

  • $100.0M

    National Park Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024

    Support for national parks campaign

  • $82.0M

    Indiana Association of United Ways · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Statewide capital projects init

  • $75.0M

    Feeding America · Chicago, IL · 2025

    Capacity building for natl network

  • $71.8M

    City of Indianapolis-Parks&Rec Dept · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Indy parks capital projects

  • $57.0M

    National Geographic Society · Washington, DC · 2025

    Archives preservation

  • $55.0M

    Early Learning Indiana · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Very young children programs

  • $50.9M

    University of Notre Dame Du Lac · Notre Dame, IN · 2025

    Delta network: an ai project

  • $50.0M

    United Negro College Fund · Washington, DC · 2024

    Support for uncf capital campaign

  • $50.0M

    Purdue Research Foundation · West Lafayette, IN · 2023

    Purdue computes initiative

  • $50.0M

    Purdue Research Foundation · West Lafayette, IN · 2023

    Mitchell e. Daniels schl of business

  • $50.0M

    United Negro College Fund · Washington, DC · 2023

    Support for uncf capital campaign

  • $50.0M

    State of Indiana in Dept of Edu · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Advancing science of reading in in

  • $48.0M

    Indiana Youth Institute · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Strengthening youth programs in in

  • $45.5M

    American Camping Association · Martinsville, IN · 2023

    Fostering character in camp programs

  • $44.0M

    Cicp Foundation · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Cicp charitble educl & scientfc prog

  • $40.0M

    Duke University · Durham, NC · 2025

    Forum for congregational life proj

  • $40.0M

    Perry Township Schools · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $40.0M

    State of in-Department of Educatn · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    K-12 education programs and projects

  • $40.0M

    Indiana Department of Natural Res · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Support for indiana state parks

  • $40.0M

    National Trust Historic Preservatn · Washington, DC · 2024

    Preserving black churches project

  • $40.0M

    Smithsonian Institution · Washington, DC · 2024

    Celebrating americas 250th project

  • $40.0M

    American National Red Cross · Washington, DC · 2022

    Disaster response capacity building

  • $40.0M

    Salvation Army National Corp · Alexandria, VA · 2022

    Disaster response capacity building

  • $38.8M

    American Indian College Fund · Denver, CO · 2022

    Educl attainment & career readiness

  • $35.0M

    Wake Forest University · Winston Salem, NC · 2025

    Educating character initiative

  • $35.0M

    Ball State University Foundation · Muncie, IN · 2023

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $35.0M

    University of Notre Dame Du Lac · Notre Dame, IN · 2022

    Interdisciplinary research building

  • $32.1M

    Belmont University · Nashville, TN · 2024

    Creative arts collective

  • $32.0M

    Depauw University · Greencastle, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $30.5M

    Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology · Terre Haute, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $30.0M

    Church Benefits Association · Minneapolis, MN · 2025

    Clergy health and wellness hub proj

  • $30.0M

    Msd of Warren Township · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $30.0M

    Boys & Girls Clubs of America · Atlanta, GA · 2024

    Youth character development init

  • $30.0M

    Girl Scouts of the USA · New York, NY · 2024

    Youth character development init

  • $30.0M

    Hanover College Trustees · Hanover, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $30.0M

    Indiana White River State Park · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    White river state park expansion

  • $30.0M

    National Boy Scouts of America Fdn · Irving, TX · 2024

    Youth character development init

  • $30.0M

    National Council of Ymca of the USA · Chicago, IL · 2024

    Youth character development init

  • $30.0M

    University of Notre Dame Du Lac · Notre Dame, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $30.0M

    Taylor University · Upland, IN · 2023

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $30.0M

    United Way of Central Indiana · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Capital projects fund

  • $30.0M

    Boys & Girls Clubs of America · Atlanta, GA · 2022

    Strengthening youth programs in in

  • $29.6M

    Franklin Township Community School · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $27.2M

    National Trust Historic Preservatn · Washington, DC · 2024

    National fund for sacred places prog

  • $27.0M

    Grace Schools · Winona Lake, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $25.5M

    Msd of Pike Township · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $25.0M

    Christel House Academy · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $25.0M

    Goodwill Education Initiatives · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $25.0M

    Herron High School · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $25.0M

    Kipp Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $25.0M

    Phalen Leadership Academies Indiana · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $25.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2025

    More perfect init for americas 250th

  • $25.0M

    Marian University · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $25.0M

    Thurgood Marshall College Fund · Washington, DC · 2024

    Hbcu capacity building

  • $25.0M

    Earlham College · Richmond, IN · 2023

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $25.0M

    Purdue Research Foundation · West Lafayette, IN · 2023

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $25.0M

    Wabash College · Crawfordsville, IN · 2023

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $25.0M

    Central Indiana Community Foundatn · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Connected communities initiative

  • $24.8M

    City Seminary of New York · New York, NY · 2025

    Ministry in the city hub project

  • $24.3M

    Indiana Wesleyan University · Marion, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $23.0M

    National Trust Historic Preservatn · Washington, DC · 2022

    National fund for sacred places prog

  • $22.6M

    Archdiocese of Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $22.5M

    Big Brothers Big Sisters of America · Tampa, FL · 2024

    Youth character development init

  • $22.5M

    Butler University · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $22.5M

    Junior Achievement USA · Colorado Springs, CO · 2024

    Youth character development init

  • $21.9M

    Ivy Tech Foundation · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Ins early childhood educ workforce

  • $21.0M

    Indiana Institute of Technology · Fort Wayne, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $20.0M

    American Indian College Fund · Denver, CO · 2025

    Tcu futures project campaign

  • $20.0M

    Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI · 2025

    Calvin inst of christian worshp prog

  • $20.0M

    Childrens Museum of Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Centennial capital campaign

  • $20.0M

    Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fdn · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Capital campaign

  • $20.0M

    Indiana Youth Institute · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Indiana youth worker program

  • $19.0M

    Aspen Institute · Washington, DC · 2025

    Weave: the social fabric project

  • $19.0M

    Independent Colleges of Indiana · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Community scholarship program 2026

  • $18.9M

    Independent Colleges of Indiana · Indianapolis, IN · 2022

    Community scholarship program 2024

  • $18.5M

    Independent Colleges of Indiana · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Community scholarship program 2027

  • $18.0M

    Louisville Presbytn Theo Seminary · Louisville, KY · 2023

    Louisville institute project

  • $17.5M

    Indianapolis Center for Congregatns · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Regionl centers for in congregations

  • $17.2M

    Trine University · Angola, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $17.0M

    Council of Independent Colleges · Washington, DC · 2025

    Vocation in undergraduate educ prog

  • $17.0M

    Fuller Theological Seminary · Pasadena, CA · 2025

    Tenx10 collaboration project

  • $16.7M

    Msd of Decatur Township · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $16.6M

    Wake Forest University · Winston Salem, NC · 2022

    Leadership & character ed programs

  • $16.5M

    Independent Colleges of Indiana · Indianapolis, IN · 2023

    Community scholarship program 2025

  • $16.0M

    Community Fdn of St Joseph County · South Bend, IN · 2025

    Indiana community fdn init-gift

  • $16.0M

    Legacy Foundation · Merrillville, IN · 2025

    Indiana community fdn init-gift

  • $16.0M

    Indiana University Foundation · Bloomington, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

  • $15.9M

    Christian Theological Seminary · Indianapolis, IN · 2024

    Clergy renewal programs

  • $15.3M

    Council of Independent Colleges · Washington, DC · 2022

    Vocation in undergrad ed program

  • $15.0M

    Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI · 2022

    Calvin inst of christianworship prog

  • $15.0M

    Indianapolis Foundation · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Indiana community fdn init-gift

  • $15.0M

    Neighborhood Charter Network · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

    Marion county k-12 education init

  • $15.0M

    Wounded Warrior Project · Jacksonville, FL · 2025

    Capacity bldg-natl military serv org

  • $15.0M

    Boston College Trustees · Chestnut Hill, MA · 2024

    Hispanic pastoral leaders initiative

  • $15.0M

    Calumet College of St Joseph · Whiting, IN · 2024

    Colleges & communities initiative

View all 7,478 grants →

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.