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Private foundation · Indianapolis, IN (gives in Tennessee from out of state)

Lilly Endowment Inc.

Takes applications

Takes applications. See how to apply below.

Key facts

Grants in Tennessee
19 totaling $18.9 million
Typical grant
$50,000 to $2 million (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
A realistic first ask
About $500,000, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
Where it gives
Davidson County, Shelby County, Williamson County, Washington County, Bradley County, Knox County · plus 2266 grants outside Tennessee
Buildings & equipment
None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
Funds new groups?
29% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 5 of 17.
Total giving that year
$3.9 billion

Giving by year

Giving by year from its IRS filings
Tax yearTotal grants paidTo TennesseeTennessee grants
2025$3864.4M$18.9M19
2024$2260.6M$48.7M24
2023$1527M$16M25

How to apply

Contact
Program office · indianapolis · 3179245471
What to send
Grant guidelines & procedures the following guidelines and procedures, formulated over the years by our founders and board of directors, govern our grantmaking decisions. We consider proposals in three main program areas: community development, education and youth, and religion. Areas of interest community development our community development grantmaking has a key focus on enhancing the quality of life in indianapolis and indiana. We grant funds for human and social needs, city and neighborhood revitalization, low- and moderate-income housing, and arts and culture in indianapolis. We seek to advance the prosperity of all residents, including residents affected by poverty and other societal challenges. On a statewide level, we routinely offer initiatives to support community foundations and united ways. Nationally, the endowment provides support on an invitational basis for compelling other causes that are consistent with our areas of interest, such as disaster relief and recovery effo
Deadlines
Application process if you believe your charitable organization has a request that fits within our g
Limits
Limitations the endowment generally does not support the following: - loans or cash grants to private individuals. Virtually all grant money is awarded to charitable entities. We do not assist individuals with personal or business-related finances. - requests to discharge pre-existing debts of individuals or organizations. - healthcare projects. - mass media projects. The endowment does not typically fund mass media projects and limits consideration to projects on an invitational basis that fall squarely within our specific program areas. - endowments or endowed chairs. The endowment does not fund endowment or endowed chairs, except in special initiatives or in unusual cases involving longstanding grantees. - public libraries. Except for special initiatives, the endowment regularly declines grants to public libraries outside marion county, ind. Requests from organizations outside of indianapolis that involve building campaigns, elementary/secondary education, arts and culture, human se

As the foundation reported to the IRS for tax year 2025. Check its website or call before sending anything, because contacts and deadlines change.

Board and officers

Does your board know anyone here?

Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.

  • N Clay RobbinsChairman&ceo
  • Jennett M HillPresident
  • Ben W BlantonVp secy & gc
  • Peter A BuckVp invest&gm
  • Christopher L CobleVp religion
  • Jaclyn P DowdVpevaluation
  • Ronni N KlothVp cmty dev
  • Ted MapleVp education
  • Diane M StensonVp&treasurer
  • Daniel P CarmichaelDirector
  • Clarence CrainDirector
  • Craig Dykstra Part YearDir emeritus
  • William G EnrightDirector
  • Charles E GoldenDirector
  • John C LechleiterDirector
  • Eli Lilly IIDir emeritus
  • Rebecca E LillyDirector
  • Mary K LisherDirector
  • David N ShaneDirector
  • John D WitvlietDirector

As listed in its 2025 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.

What it funds most often

  • Employee matching gift(s)
  • Religion & cultural inst initiative
  • Youth on faith & service initiative
  • Capacity buildg-disaster relief orgs
  • Nurturing children-worship & prayer
  • Hispanic pastoral leaders initiative
  • Thriving congregations initiative
  • No small endeavor public media proj

Tennessee organizations it funded

Largest first. Past winners are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.

Tennessee grants from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Past winnerWherePurposeAmount
Appalachia Service Project Inc.Johnson City, Washington CountyYouth on faith & service initiative$3.8M
Center for Youth Ministry TrainingBrentwood, Williamson CountyYouth on faith & service initiative$3.7M
Lorraine Civil Rights Museum FdnMemphis, Shelby CountyReligion & cultural inst initiative$2.5M
National Museum of African-Am MusicNashville, Davidson CountyReligion & cultural inst initiative$2.5M
Lipscomb UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyNo small endeavor public media proj$2M
Center for Contemplative JusticeNashville, Davidson CountyNurturing children-worship & prayer$1.2M
Lipscomb UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyPathways for tomorrow initiative$997K
Church of GodCleveland, Bradley CountyHispanic pastoral leaders initiative$750K
Johnson UniversityKnoxville, Knox CountyThriving congregations initiative$500K
Trevecca Nazarene UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyThriving in ministry initiative$500K
Lorraine Civil Rights Museum FdnMemphis, Shelby CountyReligion & cultural inst initiative$100K
Pi Kappa Alpha FoundationMemphis, Shelby CountyEmployee matching gift(s)$99K
Chi Omega FoundationMemphis, Shelby CountyEmployee matching gift(s)$94K
Board of Incorporators-Ame ChurchNashville, Davidson CountyCapacity buildg-disaster relief orgs$50K
Cogic Charities Inc.Memphis, Shelby CountyCapacity buildg-disaster relief orgs$50K
Charity Global Inc.Franklin, Williamson CountyEmployee matching gift(s)$42K
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyEmployee matching gift(s)$6,750
Angel Heart Farm Inc.College Grove, Williamson CountyEmployee matching gift(s)$2,000
St Jude Children's Research HospMemphis, Shelby CountyEmployee matching gift(s)$1,350

Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save