Lilly Endowment grants $8.5 million

INDIANAPOLIS (Press Release) - Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded three grants that together exceed $8.5 million to extend effective programs managed by United Way of Central Indiana on behalf of the region's human care system. The grants are in addition to the Endowment's support of United Way's annual campaign.

The largest award -- $7.5 million -- continues Endowment support begun in 2000 for capital projects to enhance the delivery of human service programs in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties. Endowment support for the Capital Projects Fund now totals $117.5 million.

News of the extension "helps ease the pressures of the new year knowing that we have the continued means to respond to greater demands on our facilities that the lagging economy has brought on," said Ellen K. Annala, United Way's president and CEO. Already, seven potential projects are in planning stages and other needs continue to surface, Annala added.

“We have been very pleased with United Way’s administration of the funds it has received for these capital projects,” said N. Clay Robbins, president of the Endowment. “A committee of dedicated local volunteers with expertise in architecture, engineering, finance and other disciplines reviews each project that is proposed and makes sure that related specifications, designs and plans are solidly conceived and well thought out. The committee’s conscientious engagement in the allocation of these funds has significantly enhanced their impact on the delivery of human services in our community.”

A portion of the new grant will be used for collaborative community projects that involve United Way, such as the improvements made to 23 child care ministries to help meet the health and safety needs of young children. As many as 20 more projects are anticipated as part of United Way's education priority.

In the past 11 years, the Capital Projects Fund has enabled United Way to invest in 127 projects for 69 agencies for a total impact of nearly $300 million in renovations, new construction and purchases. Annala explained the added impact was made possible by using the Endowment grants to leverage other community fundraising.

The program has also equipped many agencies with the information needed to make better business decisions by helping United Way partners pay for technical assistance to assess the feasibility of projects before starting them.

United Way has used earnings of the Capital Projects Fund grants to finance technology improvements for 99 agencies and help a number of agencies meet rising heating and transportation costs.

The second grant, for $851,506, will be used to continue support and evaluation of community strategies to reduce homelessness in the community. Training and professional development of the staffs of homeless-service providers will be supported, as will strategies for coordinating care for people leaving homelessness.

Finally, $200,000 from the Endowment will help ensure continuation of the Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators (SAVI) database that helps provide comprehensive and reliable sources of information about Central Indiana. The information helps private and public sector organizations align their programs and services more strategically with community needs. SAVI is used to enhance human service policy and program development, research, evaluation and fundraising.