In 1968, Eli Lilly and Company established the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt private foundation that awards cash grants to support philanthropic initiatives that are aligned with the company’s business strategy. The Lilly Foundation has three primary programs through which the majority of its grants are made: Discretionary Grants Program, Employee Matching Gifts Program, and Employee Volunteer Recognition Program.
Under the Discretionary Grants Program, grants are awarded 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.
More specifically, the Lilly Foundation makes grants 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 and health.
In each of these areas, the Lilly Foundation places special emphasis on programs that address diversity. Grants in this category are made on a discretionary basis by the board of directors of the Lilly Foundation through a competitive process.
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
The Lilly Foundation supports programs that improve patient outcomes, are national in scope, and aligned with the 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 (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. Applications in the Academic Relations area are reviewed by invitation only.
Community-Aligned Grants (Indianapolis, IN)
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 and 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.
Education and Youth Development
The Lilly Foundation supports programs focused on K-12 education and youth development in Indianapolis. 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
The Lilly Foundation provides support to qualified Indianapolis-based health care organizations that align with the company’s therapeutic areas of interest. 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.
