Lilly Endowment

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana, founded in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment, a separate entity from the company, is committed to supporting community development, education, and religion, with a special emphasis on projects that benefit young people and strengthen financial self-sufficiency in the charitable sector.

Lilly Endowment funds significant programs across the United States, especially in the field of religion, but maintains a particular focus on Indianapolis and Indiana. They believe in supporting both established and emerging charitable organizations, encouraging them to adapt to changing times and embrace new approaches to address current challenges. The Endowment emphasizes conservative progressiveness, balancing tradition with a willingness to reconsider approaches and explore innovative solutions.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation dedicated to supporting the causes of community development, education, and religion, with a particular focus on initiatives that benefit young people and strengthen financial self-sufficiency within the charitable sector. Established in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr., the Endowment maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana, but funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion.

Lilly Endowment promotes a culture rooted in the values of its founders: conservative progressiveness, community betterment, and quiet philanthropy. This manifests in a commitment to both supporting established institutions and fostering new ideas, a focus on improving the lives of individuals and communities, and a preference for recognizing and supporting the work of grantees rather than seeking external recognition for its own endeavors.

Lilly Endowment is committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion, both within its own organization and through its grantmaking. The Endowment recognizes the importance of representing a wide range of perspectives and experiences within its staff, and works to create an inclusive environment that values and respects all employees. Through its grantmaking, the Endowment supports organizations that are actively working to promote equity and inclusion in their communities, and prioritizes initiatives that address systemic barriers to opportunity.