COVID-19 Updates

Since March 13, 2020, the Endowment has provided nearly $230 million in grants to support efforts in Indiana and around the country that address a variety of needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. From time to time the Endowment will update this page about our grantmaking. Many of the grants made toward these efforts can be seen below. A special report about 2020 COVID-19 grants can be found here.

Grantmaking in Indiana

United Way of Central Indiana – Since March 2020, the Endowment has made grants totaling $24,823,800 to United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) to help human services organizations across a six-county region respond to the pandemic.

On March 13, 2020, the Endowment made a $15 million to UWCI to help it start the Central Indiana Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF). Additional funders included Central Indiana Community Foundation (through the Glick Fund and The Indianapolis Foundation), Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation.
In April 2020, as it became apparent that most of the C-CERF funding might be required to address emerging significant needs in Marion County, UWCI announced an Endowment grant of $3.5 million specifically to be used in counties UWCI serves outside of Marion County – Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks and Morgan.
In July 2020, the Endowment made a $4,573,800 grant to UWCI to establish a COVID-19 Facilities Modification Fund. The fund provides matching grants to help organizations cover the cost of making COVID-19 safety improvements (e.g., shield guards in offices or workspaces, HVAC modifications to improve air exchanges, motion sensors for lights, no-touch bathroom fixtures).
In March 2021, the Endowment announced that it had made a $1.75 million to UWCI to support its continued work with social services organizations and other agencies in the five-county region outside of Marion County as communities faced the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.

Indiana United Ways – Beginning in April 2020, the Endowment made grants totaling $45 million to support the work of Indiana United Ways, which help human services organizations statewide meet the urgent needs of individuals and families most affected by the pandemic.

In April 2020, the Endowment made a $30 million grant to Indiana Association of United Ways (IAUW), the statewide professional association of United Ways and United Funds. IAUW used the funds to make grants to social service and other agencies in the 86 counties not served by United Way of Central Indiana.
In March 2021, the Endowment announced that it had made a $15 million grant to IAUW to support its continued work with social services organizations and other agencies across Indiana as communities faced the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.

Coming Back Stronger Fund – Early Learning Indiana announced on May 15, 2020 that it has received a $15.7 million grant from Lilly Endowment to create the Come Back Stronger Fund. The fund is designed to reinforce Indiana’s high-quality early learning opportunities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. READ NEWS RELEASE

On December 17, 2020, Early Learning Indiana announced a new $10.4 million grant from Lilly Endowment to provide another round of the Come Back Stronger Fund, which will help sustain Indiana’s supply of high-quality early care and learning opportunities.Read news release

Indianapolis E-Learning Fund – Lilly Endowment has joined other funders to help create the Indianapolis E-Learning Fund, which is designed to support educators, students and families during the transition to e-learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Endowment made a $1 million grant to the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee to support the fund, which is being coordinated by the Indianapolis Office of Education Innovation. The fund was launched April 8, 2020. READ NEWS RELEASE

On Dec. 15. 2020, leaders of the Indianapolis E-Learning Fund announced additional efforts to strengthen digital learning access for Marion County students and their families. Read news release

Indy Arts and Culture Restart & Resilience Fund – The Arts Council of Indianapolis in June 2020 announced a new program designed to help Marion County nonprofit arts and cultural organizations reopen and re-imagine their mission delivery in a world informed by the new realities of COVID-19. The Indy Arts and Culture Restart & Resilience Fund is made possible by a $10.2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.Read news release

Youth Program Resilience Fund (YPRF) – On July 13 2020, Lilly Endowment launched a fund of up to $25 million to help youth serving organizations in Indiana address some of the challenges they face because of the pandemic. The YPRF is designed to offer support to a variety of organizations so they can better serve the needs of school-age children and youth (ages five to 18).

Grants to Churches and Grassroots Organizations – On January 4, 2021, Lilly Endowment announced $475,000 in grants to eight organizations that provide robust outreach to assist people in need, especially highly vulnerable African American residents in high-poverty neighborhoods. In recent months, these organizations have seen surges in demand for help, including requests for rental and food assistance. They will use grant funds to help more people meet their basic needs. Read news release

Grants to City of Indianapolis and Community-based Organizations – On June 8, 2020, the City of Indianapolis announced that Lilly Endowment had committed $10 million to help supplement $76 million in federal funds received by the City. Of the $10 million committed by the Endowment, the City of Indianapolis will receive directly $5 million ($1.5 million to cover the administrative expenses of a $15 million rental assistance program and $3.5 million to meet basic needs at the discretion of the City). The remaining $5 million will be used to provide critical operating support to community centers and select other organizations working to help comprehensively those in need and that are charged with implementing key aspects of the federally-funded programs.

Grants to Community and Multi-service Centers – On January 4, 2021, Lilly Endowment announced $10.475 million in grants to 15 organizations that offer a range of programs and support, such as food, childcare, counseling, job training, youth development, programs for seniors and health services. All have seen surges in demand for their offerings in recent months. In 2020, most played an essential role in disbursing more than $30 million through a City of Indianapolis rental assistance program made possible by federal CARES Act resources supplemented by Lilly Endowment grants. Organizations will use these grants to provide direct assistance to individuals and to support operating expenses, including increased and unexpected costs caused by the pandemic. Read news release

Grants to Help Organizations that Provide Food Assistance – One January 4, 2021, Lilly Endowment announced $3.5 million in grants to two organizations that are the primary food banks serving Indianapolis and Central Indiana. They have played indispensable roles in COVID-19 relief efforts by providing substantially more food to a network of food pantries and other social services providers. They have helped organize and support direct food distribution, as well, including drive-through food relief efforts at venues such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They will use grants to acquire and distribute more food to individuals and families. Read news release

Grants to Help Organizations that Address Homelessness and Domestic Violence – On January 4, 2021, Lilly Endowment announced $2.75 million in grants to 13 organizations that address homelessness and domestic violence. Eleven of these 13 organizations provide direct services to homeless individuals and survivors of domestic abuse. Two of the organizations are key intermediary organizations that address homelessness and domestic violence issues. They will use their grants for special initiatives to help more individuals secure temporary and permanent housing. Read news release

Grants to Help Organizations that Work with Immigrants and Refugees – In February 2021, Lilly Endowment approved grants to Exodus Refugee Immigration and the Immigrant Welcome Center so they can continue their work helping immigrants and refugees transition smoothly to life in the United States. The affects of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly increased levels of service the organizations are called upon to provide to meet the needs of the individuals and families they serve.

Grants to Help Indiana Congregations – With support from Lilly Endowment, the Indianapolis Center for Congregations in May, June and July made a $13 million in grants to Indiana congregations to make technology upgrades so they could continue to provide worship and other programs remotely amid the pandemic. The Center for Congregations made grants to nearly 2,700 congregations representing diverse theological traditions in cities, towns and rural communities across the state. READ NEWS RELEASE

Grants to Organizations that Provide Legal Services to Low-income Individuals – In February 2021, Lilly Endowment approved grants to help Indiana Legal Services, Indianapolis Legal Aid Society and the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic continue to serve low-income individuals and other vulnerable individuals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these organizations have experienced increased demand for legal advice and representation in areas that include family law, housing and eviction and bankruptcy, among others.

Grant to the State of Indiana – On March 24, 2020, Lilly Endowment made a $5 million grant to the State of Indiana to help state leaders respond quickly to emerging and wide-ranging needs of homeless individuals and families throughout the state resulting from the COVID-19 virus.

Grants for compelling national COVID-19 response efforts

In April 2021, the Endowment made a $2.5 million grant to Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a national program equipping college students and campus leaders with the knowledge and skills to become leaders in a religiously diverse world. The grant will help fund the Faith in the Vaccines Ambassadors program. Through the program, IFYC is mobilizing its existing network of college student leaders and IFYC alumni to design and implement, in partnership with local religious leaders, vaccine education efforts in their home communities. LEARN MORE

On June 23, 2020, The American Red Cross (ARC) announced that it had received Lilly Endowment grants totaling $10.5 million to help residents in Indiana and across the nation who are most vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic. With its network of staff and volunteers, ARC is helping to meet emergency needs for food, shelter and other human services and shoring up the nation’s blood supply. READ NEWS RELEASE

On April 1, 2020, The Salvation Army announced that it had received Lilly Endowment grants totaling $15 million to support its efforts to help residents in Indiana and across the nation who are most vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic. The Salvation Army is helping to meet emergency needs for food, shelter and other human services of individuals and families. READ NEWS RELEASE

On Dec. 1, 2020, The United Services Organization (the USO) announced that it had received a $3 million Lilly Endowment grant to support the USO’s Combat COVID-19 Initiative. The grant will bolster the USO’s ability to focus on recovery and resilience efforts for service members and their families. READ NEWS RELEASE