Lilly Endowment
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lilly Endowment does
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation founded in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the foundation operates three primary programmatic divisions — Community Development, Education and Youth, and Religion — through which it deploys grants to religious institutions, educational organizations, youth-serving charities, community foundations, and increasingly to veterans-services and disaster-relief nonprofits across the United States. Over its 87-year history the foundation has distributed nearly $15.21 billion in grants to 11,087 charitable organizations, and at the end of 2024 held assets of nearly $80 billion, with significant direct holdings of 91,881,150 shares of Eli Lilly and Company common stock as of May 2026. Federal law requires private foundations to distribute approximately 5% of investment asset value annually, making the endowment a structurally perpetual grantmaking entity.
The foundation's grantmaking is administered through a structured process: organizations submit preliminary letters by mail, full proposals are requested for promising candidates, and grants are reviewed by program directors, division officers, and approved by the Board of Directors at meetings held in March, June, September, November, and December. Core flagship initiatives include the GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) initiative, the Pathways for Tomorrow theological education program, the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana), the National Clergy Renewal Program (administered by Christian Theological Seminary), and the Character at Camp Initiative. Recent notable capital deployments include $250 million to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for the READI program (2021), $138 million to Indiana University for the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (2025), and $100 million each to the National Urban League (2020) and the National Park Foundation (2024). The foundation maintains a special geographic commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana alongside national-scale religion and community development programming, and operates with a lean staff of 51-100 employees organized into specialized program divisions.
Lilly Endowment firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lilly Endowment
- Legal name
- Lilly Endowment Inc.
- Website
- https://lillyendowment.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lilly Endowment industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Foundation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)
Keywords
Where Lilly Endowment is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lilly Endowment business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Endowment Investment Returns: Lilly Endowment generates revenue primarily through investment returns on its substantial endowment portfolio. The foundation was created with gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company and has grown to nearly $80 billion in assets as of end of 2024. The endowment is required by federal law to distribute approximately five percent of its investment asset value annually in charitable expenditures.
- Eli Lilly and Company Stock Holdings: The endowment holds significant direct holdings in Eli Lilly & Co. common stock, with reported holdings of 91,881,150 shares as of May 2026. The endowment was founded through gifts of Eli Lilly and Company stock and this remains the financial bedrock of the organization.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Lilly Endowment product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation that makes grants to charitable organizations in three primary focus areas: community development, education and youth, and religion. It identifies and supports experienced organizations and emerging efforts through a structured grant proposal and review process, and also pursues initiatives that benefit young people and promote philanthropy and volunteerism. The foundation administers named programs and initiatives spanning theological education, pastoral renewal, youth development, community scholarship, and disaster response.
Product overview
Lilly Endowment is a private philanthropic foundation, not a product company. It does not offer software products, platforms, or developer tools. The organization focuses on grantmaking in three primary areas: community development, education and youth, and religion. The Endowment supports various initiatives and programs through charitable grants, including community foundation development (GIFT), scholarship programs, youth development programs, theological education initiatives, and disaster relief efforts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) An ongoing matching-challenge initiative that builds the capacity of Indiana community foundations through matching grants, growing community philanthropic assets across the state.
- Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly $15.21 billion in grants to 11,087 charitable organizations over 87 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lilly Endowment
Customer profileNamed customers35 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lilly Endowment technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lilly Endowment partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Forest Products LabminorU.S. Endowment partnered with Forest Products Lab to create a video series showcasing innovation in the forest products industry. This promotional initiative highlights advancements in the sector through collaborative content creation.
- Christian Theological SeminarycoreAdminister the National Clergy Renewal Program and Indiana Clergy Renewal Programs for pastoral renewal and reflection. The seminary coordinates programs helping pastors step away from daily parish obligations for renewal.
- Independent Colleges of IndianacoreAdministers the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, selecting students from each of Indiana's 92 counties for full-tuition scholarships to Indiana colleges and universities.
- Indy Arts CouncilcoreAdministers the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship Program offering artists and arts administrators opportunities for creative rejuvenation through biennial fellowships.
- United Way of Central IndianacoreAdministers the Human Services Professional Renewal Program for employees of UWCI member agencies, providing grants for renewal experiences.
- AYS, Inc.coreAdministers the Journey Fellowship Program for experienced youth workers, new youth workers, and students considering youth work careers in Indiana.
- Council on FoundationscoreNonprofit leadership association of grantmaking foundations providing opportunity, leadership, and tools for philanthropic organizations.
- CandidcoreBrings together Foundation Center and GuideStar expertise to advance knowledge of philanthropy worldwide.
- Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana UniversitycoreWorld's first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy, established in 2013 and named in honor of the Lilly family's generosity.
- Independent SectorcoreAdvances common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. Lilly Endowment was a founding member when formed in 1980.
- American Red CrosscoreReceived $40 million grant in 2022 to bolster disaster response capacity alongside The Salvation Army.
- The Salvation ArmycoreReceived $40 million grant in 2022 to strengthen disaster relief and recovery efforts alongside American Red Cross.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lilly Endowment competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lilly Endowment social profiles
Digital presenceLilly Endowment financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lilly Endowment leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles36 records
Lilly Endowment funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lilly Endowment M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments106 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lilly Endowment
What does Lilly Endowment do?
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation that makes grants to charitable organizations in three primary focus areas: community development, education and youth, and religion. It identifies and supports experienced organizations and emerging efforts through a structured grant proposal and review process, and also pursues initiatives that benefit young people and promote philanthropy and volunteerism. The foundation administers named programs and initiatives spanning theological education, pastoral renewal, youth development, community scholarship, and disaster response.
Is Lilly Endowment a public or private company?
Lilly Endowment is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lilly Endowment founded?
Lilly Endowment was founded in 1937. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Lilly Endowment based?
Lilly Endowment is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lilly Endowment make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Endowment Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are eli Lilly and Company Stock Holdings.
Does Lilly Endowment have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lilly Endowment.
What industry is Lilly Endowment in?
Lilly Endowment's product category is Philanthropic Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8700.