Lilly Endowment’s Marion County K-12 Private Schools Initiative aims 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 in Marion County were able to request funding through a three-phase process.
- Phase 1 Planning Grants: Planning grants of up to $50,000 helped schools to 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: Implementation grants will help 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 submitted 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.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants for the Endowment’s Marion County K-12 Private Schools initiative included 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.
Phase 3 Competitive Grants
The deadline for Stage 1 Concept Papers for Phase 3 Competitive Grants has passed. Questions regarding submissions can be directed to K12initiatives@lei.org.
Questions: For questions about this initiative, please review the initiative’s FAQs (updated Nov. 2024) or email K12initiatives@lei.org.
News Release: Read the initiative news release here.