Lilly Endowment is pleased to announce the Marion County K-12 Public Schools Initiative. The aim of this initiative is to help public schools initiate, enhance or expand compelling programs and projects that show promise to improve their students’ academic achievement and the prospects for post-secondary success.

Overview

The Endowment has allocated up to $450 million for this multi-year initiative. Eligible public school districts and public, nonprofit charter schools may request funding through a three-phase process.

1. Phase 1 Planning Grants:  Eligible applicants may request planning grants of up to $50,000 to help them 1) envision and develop plans that align with the initiative’s aim by addressing one or more of the priorities listed in the Request for Proposals, 2) prepare a proposal for a Phase 2 implementation grant, and 3) if desired, prepare a concept paper for a competitive Phase 3 grant.
2. Phase 2 Implementation Grants:  Eligible applicants may submit proposals requesting an implementation grant to initiate, enhance or expand compelling programs or projects designed to help improve their students’ academic achievement or prospects for post-secondary success.
3. Phase 3 Competitive Grants:  The Endowment has allocated up to $375 million for Phase 3, which comprises a two-stage competitive process. In the first stage, applicants may submit concept papers requesting competitive grants for funding programs or projects that are likely to have significant impact on students’ academic achievement or their prospects for post-secondary success. Those applicants submitting the most compelling and promising ideas may, at the Endowment’s sole discretion, be invited to participate in the second stage and submit a full proposal for a Phase 3 competitive grant later in 2025.

Application Materials

Applicants should download the initiative’s Application Packet, which includes the Request for Proposals and required documents to submit funding requests for Phases 1, 2 and 3. Please note that each required document provided within the Application Packet may also be accessed individually in the Initiative Resources section at the bottom of the page. View Application Packet

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for the Endowment’s Marion County K-12 Public Schools Initiative include public school districts, nonprofit charter schools and charter school networks with schools physically located in Marion County. See the Request for Proposals (below) for more details.

Information Sessions

The Endowment plans to host three in-person information sessions to provide an overview of the initiative’s aim and phases and review the Request for Proposals (below). Eligible applicants may register up to three representatives to attend one of the sessions linked below. For public school districts, designated attendees should include the superintendent and up to two other representatives. For charter schools and charter school networks, designated attendees should include the executive director or principal and up to two other representatives. To accommodate schedules, designated representatives from one applicant may attend different sessions. Please note that information sessions will not be recorded.

• Friday, August 23 from 10-11:30 a.m. (ET)
• Monday, August 26 from 8:30-10 a.m. (ET)
• Thursday, August 29 from 4:30-6 p.m. (ET)

How to Apply for Phase 1 Planning Grants

Using the instructions for Phase 1 submissions outlined in the Request for Proposals, please submit the checklist items as a single PDF through the form below by 12 p.m. (ET) on Friday, September 13, 2024.

Questions:  For questions about this initiative, please email K12initiatives@lei.org.
News Release:  Read the initiative news release here.