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What We Support

The Lilly Foundation awards grants to qualified U.S. based tax-exempt public charities that have a well-defined sense of purpose, a demonstrated commitment to maximizing available resources, and a reputation for meeting objectives and delivering quality programs and services.

Grants are made to qualified organizations that:

improve patient outcomes, especially in Lilly’s therapeutic areas of interest;
enhance the quality of life in communities in which Lilly has a presence, especially Indianapolis, Indiana; and
improve education and educational opportunities, with a priority on science.

In each of these areas, the Lilly Foundation places special emphasis on programs that address diversity.

Company-Aligned Grants

The Lilly Foundation awards grants to qualified organizations aligned with Eli Lilly and Company’s business strategy in three primary areas of interest:

Health Care Programs Aligned with Lilly’s Therapeutic Areas of Interest

(National or International)

The Lilly Foundation supports programs that improve patient outcomes, especially in those therapeutic areas of most interest to Lilly. The therapeutic areas of interest include mental illness, endocrinology (particularly diabetes and osteoporosis), oncology, and cardiovascular disease. This area annually receives the largest allocation of the Foundation’s philanthropic resources. Competition within this area is significant. Therefore, programs that have the broadest impact (in terms of number of patients served and geographic scope) are those generally selected to receive a grant.

Public Policy Research

The Lilly Foundation supports various qualified public charities organized to foster new ideas and address public policy issues that benefit society. Public Policy Research grant applications should relate to the development of policies and programs on medical innovation, regulatory reform, development of free markets, and other matters dealing with the open and fair interaction of business and government.

Academic Relations

The Lilly Foundation supports projects and programs at colleges and universities of interest to the Foundation. Grant requests in the Academic Relations area are by invitation only.

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Community-Aligned Grants

Community-aligned grants are awarded to qualified organizations for programs or projects that enhance the quality of life in communities in which Lilly has a presence, especially Indianapolis, Indiana. The four primary areas of interest are:

Community Development

The Lilly Foundation supports projects that distinguish Indianapolis on a national or international basis which are not likely to materialize without the Foundation’s leadership and support.

Culture

The Lilly Foundation supports the development of cultural organizations that enhance the communities in which Lilly has a presence, especially Indianapolis, Indiana.

Education and Youth Development

The Lilly Foundation supports programs focused on K-12 education and youth development in Indianapolis, Indiana. Priority is given to science education and innovative programs or models that significantly improve educational outcomes for students in Indianapolis.

Health Care Programs Aligned with Lilly’s Therapeutic Areas of Interest
(Local)

The Lilly Foundation provides support to qualified Indianapolis-based health care organizations that align with the company’s therapeutic areas of interest as outlined above. The Lilly Foundation does not support human service organizations through its discretionary grant program, but does provide matching gift funding through an annual United Way initiative.