Lilly Endowment is pleased to announce the Marion County K-12 Private Schools Initiative. The aim of this initiative is to help private 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 $150 million for this multi-year initiative. Eligible private schools may request funding through a three-phase process.
- 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.
- 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.
- Phase 3 Competitive Grants: The Endowment has allocated up to $130 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 upper Initiative Resources sidebar on this page. View Application Packet
Eligibility
Eligible applicants for the Endowment’s Marion County K-12 Private Schools initiative include accredited, exempt, nonprofit private schools physically located in Marion County. Eligible private schools must be accredited by the Indiana State Board of Education or by a third-party entity recognized by the Indiana State Board of Education. See the Request for Proposals (in Resources sidebar) for more details.
How to Apply for Phase 1 Planning Grants
While the deadline for the planning grant phase was Friday, September 13, eligible applicants that still wish to submit their planning request materials for consideration may send an email to K12initiatives@lei.org.
Questions:
For questions about this initiative, please review the initiative’s FAQs or email K12initiatives@lei.org.
News Release:
Read the initiative news release here.