Through this new GIFT phase (GIFT VIII) Lilly Endowment has invited the Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFPC) and other eligible Indiana community foundations to participate in three funding opportunities designed to help them grow their financial resources to enhance their effectiveness and promote long-term viability; further strengthen their abilities to lead on important community priorities; encourage board engagement; and support and develop strategic efforts to enhance quality of life in their communities.

The grant opportunities include:

 Matching Fund Grants, which will enable community foundations to develop unrestricted assets, implement projects and programs that address community needs, and build their internal capacity. Lilly Endowment has allocated up to $135.3 million for this opportunity.

 Community Leadership Grants, which will enable community foundations to continue to seek input from a diverse range of community stakeholders and, if desired, request funding to develop and implement large-scale action plans that address high-priority challenges and opportunities in their communities. Additionally, community foundations can choose to work collaboratively to address shared priorities by submitting a joint/regional proposal. Community Leadership Grants will be available in a two-phase process: a non-competitive planning phase and a competitive implementation phase. Lilly Endowment has allocated up to $65.5 million for this opportunity.

 Board Engagement Grants, which will encourage board members of community foundations to make financial contributions to their foundations. Each community foundation demonstrating 100 percent board member giving will receive a $100,000 unrestricted grant. Lilly Endowment has allocated up to $9.2 million for this opportunity.

“GIFT VIII is a wonderful opportunity,” stated Leeann Wright, executive director of the Community Foundation of Pulaski County. She added, “The Community Leadership Grants will enable Pulaski County to work collaboratively on community-identified issues such as substance misuse and childcare. I am excited to engage the community around these issues and this opportunity.”

Kaye Beall, president of CFPC’s board of directors, noted, “Gifts to our unrestricted Community Funds support our grants program and the work the Foundation does in the community. The Matching Grant and Board Engagement Grant opportunities are a great way to increase the impact of our grants and programs.”

GIFT is a series of statewide initiatives and programs that began in 1990 as part of Lilly Endowment’s efforts to help establish and strengthen community foundations in Indiana and build their capacity to address the needs of their local communities. The primary aim of GIFT is to help Indiana community foundations in all 92 of Indiana’s counties develop the philanthropic capacity to identify, prioritize and address local opportunities and challenges.

To learn more about GIFT VIII, please visit Lilly Endowment’s website at www.lillyendowment.org.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County, Inc. (CFPC) is the philanthropic leader serving Pulaski County. Recognizing over two decades of experience, CFPC builds resources, engages people, and inspires generosity to enrich lives in Pulaski County. CFPC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves donors, awards grants, and provides leadership for community engagement. For more information, visit www.cfopc.org.