The Lilly Foundation is accepting applications through its first open grant cycle in several years, offering funding to eligible organizations working to improve educational and economic opportunities in Marion County.
Pre-applications are open through July 3, 2026, and must be submitted through the Foundation’s online grantee portal. The 2026 open call is designed to identify organizations with bold, community-driven ideas that can create measurable, long-term charitable impact.
“The Lilly Foundation is focused on identifying and supporting locally connected organizations that are advancing opportunity in Marion County,” the Foundation said in a statement. “Through this open call, we’re seeking community-based, data-driven approaches that can help strengthen systems and improve long-term outcomes for local residents.”
The Foundation said it is especially interested in organizations that are deeply connected to the communities they serve and whose work is shaped by local leadership and data. Grants will support efforts that strengthen systems, build local capacity and demonstrate measurable charitable outcomes.
In Marion County, funding is available in two focus areas. K-12 STEM Education grants are intended to expand access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics opportunities for students from low-income communities. Economic Mobility grants will support charitable and educational programs that improve workforce readiness, expand postsecondary and skills-based education pathways and promote housing stability.
According to the Foundation, its philanthropic work supports locally led, data-driven solutions that help close health and opportunity gaps while improving quality of life for residents.
Organizations interested in applying can review eligibility requirements and submit a pre-application through the Lilly Foundation’s online grantee portal before the July 3 deadline at gso.my.site.com/LillyGrantOffice/s/.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
