Lilly Foundation Grant Program

The Lilly Foundation Open Call is a competitive charitable grant program designed to support United States based nonprofit organizations whose work aligns with the Foundation’s mission to improve lives and expand opportunity. The Lilly Foundation, a private philanthropic organization supported by Eli Lilly and Company, operates independently with a charitable vision focused on enabling individuals and communities to live healthier and more prosperous lives. Through this open call, the Foundation seeks to fund organizations that can demonstrate measurable impact and alignment with its strategic focus areas. The program supports initiatives across three primary focus areas: Global Health, K-12 STEM Education, and Economic Mobility. Global Health funding prioritizes efforts that improve access to quality healthcare, particularly in resource-limited communities both in the United States and in low and lower-middle income countries. K-12 STEM Education funding is specifically focused on Marion County, Indiana and supports initiatives that strengthen STEM pathways for students, particularly during middle school years. Economic Mobility funding also concentrates on Marion County, Indiana and supports workforce development, education pathways, and housing stability programs that improve long-term economic outcomes. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations recognized as tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and classified under specific subsections indicating public charity status. Organizations must have maintained this status for at least two years, be based in the United States, and demonstrate compliance with all applicable IRS requirements. Fiscal sponsors may apply on behalf of projects if they meet all eligibility criteria and maintain full control over grant funds. The Foundation explicitly prohibits funding for advocacy, lobbying, or activities that could provide impermissible benefit to Eli Lilly and Company or its affiliates. Funding supports project-based work and allows for direct costs and limited administrative expenses directly tied to project implementation. General operating costs unrelated to the project are not eligible, although the Foundation may, at its discretion, provide general operating support grants in certain cases. Specific funding amounts are not predefined, and applicants are encouraged to review past awards for guidance. Grant payments are typically issued annually and may extend over multiple years, with reporting requirements tied to the grant agreement. The application process follows a two-stage structure. The first stage is a pre-application submitted through the Blackbaud GrantsConnect platform, where applicants provide a summary of their proposed project and demonstrate alignment with the Foundation’s focus areas. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full application, which includes detailed information on project goals, timelines, budgets, and expected outcomes. Organizations may submit up to two pre-applications per cycle. Registration in the Blackbaud Verified Network is required prior to submission. For the 2026 Open Call, the pre-application window opens in June and closes on July 3. Invitations for full applications are issued in late July, with the full application window occurring in early to mid-August. Applications undergo review from August through October, with grant awards announced in November and funding beginning in January of the following year. Proposals are evaluated based on alignment with focus areas, clarity of goals, and potential for measurable impact across dimensions such as reach, sustainability, innovation, and outcomes. Grantees are required to enter into formal agreements outlining funding terms, reporting expectations, and payment schedules. Reporting includes both narrative and quantitative updates aligned with the Foundation’s impact framework. Support for applicants is available through the GrantsConnect platform via email and live chat, ensuring technical assistance throughout the application process. The program is expected to transition to a single annual cycle beginning in 2027, indicating its recurring nature and long-term availability.

Ensure strong alignment with focus areas and impact framework; clearly define measurable outcomes; demonstrate scalability and sustainability; avoid advocacy or prohibited activities