Lilly Endowment Inc
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr., the Endowment was established through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company, the family pharmaceutical business. Although stock in Eli Lilly and Company remains the financial foundation of the Endowment, it operates as a separate entity with its own governing board, staff, and location.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$79.9B
+28.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3B
+48.0% YoY
Grant Count
1,808
-8.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.3M
+62.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Endowment supports work in three primary areas:
- Community Development – Efforts to enhance quality of life for individuals and families in Indianapolis, Indiana, and compelling causes throughout the country consistent with founders' values
- Education – Programs that strengthen educational opportunities and institutions
- Religion – Initiatives that support religious life and faith communities
The Endowment also pursues initiatives that benefit youth and promote the causes of philanthropy and volunteerism. Special emphasis is placed on projects that benefit young people and strengthen financial self-sufficiency in the charitable sector.
Grantmaking
The Endowment provides funding through multiple mechanisms:
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Endowment maintains a special commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana, reflecting the founders' hometown roots. Eli Lilly stated in 1974: "All of us Lillys put together have never done as much for Indianapolis as Indianapolis has done for us."
Beyond Indiana, the Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. Nationally, outside the field of religion, the Endowment supports organizations on an invitational basis with programs designed to enhance higher education opportunities for African Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. The Endowment also supports key organizations in the nation's philanthropic infrastructure and selected research and educational programs important to the advancement of giving and volunteering. Additionally, it funds by invitation disaster relief and recovery efforts throughout the country.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $79,907,328,537 | $62,180,012,552 | $40,798,643,857 |
| Revenue | $3,090,184,045 | $2,061,897,636 | $1,915,656,584 |
| Expenses | $2,328,546,370 | $1,580,523,182 | $1,372,463,741 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,281,221,212 | $1,548,655,658 | $1,342,188,877 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,076,385,712 | $2,048,149,255 | $1,898,245,317 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,740,968,054 | $2,247,414,647 | $1,607,157,925 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Lilly Endowment Inc
Exploring Christian Practices Initiative Grant
LILLY ENDOWMENT INC
Amount
Up to US $2,500,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Indiana Clergy Renewal Program Grant
LILLY ENDOWMENT INC
Amount
Up to US $60,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Lilly Endowment: Community Development Grant
LILLY ENDOWMENT INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| N CLAY ROBBINS | CHAIRMAN&CEO | 40 | $1,158,000 |
| JENNETT M HILL | PRESIDENT | 40 | $800,000 |
| BEN W BLANTON | VP SECY & GC | 40 | $500,000 |
| PETER A BUCK | VP INVEST&GM | 40 | $476,000 |
| CHRISTOPHER L COBLE | VP RELIGION | 40 | $488,000 |
| JACLYN P DOWD | VPEVALUATION | 40 | $320,000 |
| RONNI N KLOTH | VP CMTY DEV | 40 | $450,000 |
| TED MAPLE | VP EDUCATION | 40 | $450,000 |
| DIANE M STENSON | VP&TREASURER | 40 | $488,000 |
| DANIEL P CARMICHAEL | DIRECTOR | 5.5 | $55,700 |
| CLARENCE CRAIN | DIRECTOR | 4 | $44,500 |
| CRAIG DYKSTRA PART YEAR | DIRECTOR | 4 | $11,125 |
| WILLIAM G ENRIGHT | DIRECTOR | 4 | $44,500 |
| CHARLES E GOLDEN | DIRECTOR | 6.5 | $60,500 |
| JOHN C LECHLEITER | DIRECTOR | 6 | $52,500 |
| ELI LILLY II PART YEAR | DIRECTOR | 4 | $22,250 |
| REBECCA E LILLY PART YEAR | DIRECTOR | 4 | $22,250 |
| MARY K LISHER | DIRECTOR | 6.5 | $60,500 |
| DAVID N SHANE | DIRECTOR | 4 | $44,500 |
| JOHN D WITVLIET PART YEAR | DIRECTOR | 4 | $3,708 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Endowment continues active grantmaking across its focus areas:
Approved grants to strengthen the capacity of faith-based organizations to provide aid to those affected by disasters in communities throughout the United States
Made a historic $80 million series of grants to support improvements at 42 parks in Indianapolis
Awarded $10 million to Indiana Wesleyan University for pastoral formation expansion
Indiana Wesleyan University Awarded $10m Lilly Endowment Grant to ExpandProvided $15 million to Wounded Warrior Project and $7.5 million to Operation Homefront for veteran and military family support
Wounded Warrior Project Receives $15 Million Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.Related Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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