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The Lilly Endowment has approved grants totaling more than $300 million to 13 colleges and universities in Indiana to support community development projects aimed at improving quality of life, the endowment announced Friday afternoon.
The five-year implementation grants range from $12.1 million to $32 million each, with DePauw University in Greencastle landing the largest grant.
The grants were offered through the endowment’s College and Community Collaboration initiative —a competitive initiative “designed to encourage Indiana’s colleges and universities to work closely with community stakeholders to envision and jointly undertake significant community development efforts to create more vibrant places in which to live, learn, work and play.”
The Indianapolis-based endowment said the grants were approved in a second and final competitive round of implementation proposals that it received earlier this year. The first round of implementation grants, which totaled $145.8 million, were announced in December.
Here are the recipients and their projects:
DePauw University, Greencastle, $32 million
DePauw will use the grant to partially support construction of a mixed-use development that includes a public square for community events; establishment of a business incubation fund connecting local entrepreneurs and business professionals to university resources; and construction of a new aquatics center at the local YMCA.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, $30.5 million
The grant will partially support construction of a building at the innovation hub on the south campus to house Rose-Hulman Ventures and support science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education, new technology development and entrepreneurship; construction of a multi-modal trail connecting the hub with the main Rose-Hulman campus and to a broader network of trails and parks; and construction of a solar farm to generate a sustainable source of energy to serve the hub and other organizations and companies in the area.
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, $30 million
The university will use the grant to create a tech and talent district in the downtown area. The grant will partially fund the renovation of a historic downtown building as the centerpiece of the district. University faculty and staff will relocate to the district along with employees, researchers and entrepreneurs from private sector entities, including human services organizations. In collaboration with Holy Cross College, the district will be home to the new Center for Leadership and Professional Excellence, which will offer credentials in leadership and ethics.
Hanover College, Hanover, $30 million
The grant to help Hanover College improve connections between the campus and communities in Hanover and the city of Madison. The grant will partially support improvements to trails and roads between the communities and nearby Clifty Falls State Park; rehabilitation of buildings, green spaces and community amenities in Hanover; and an expansion of a child development center.
Grace College, Winona Lake, $27 million
The grant will partially support Grace College’s initiative to advance innovation and create a more vibrant community through enhanced placemaking. Various projects include the creation of orthopedic and business innovation centers; the development and renovation of wellness facilities; and renovation of a performing arts and event space and a building that will house a childcare training center.
Marian University, Indianapolis, $25 million
Marian will use the grant to establish the Riverside Education Innovation District (REID). The grant will partially fund renovation of certain buildings on the former LaRue Carter hospital campus; relocation of university education programs and offices to the district; and engagement with various Indianapolis-based education and youth-serving nonprofit organizations to relocate to the REID.
Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, $24.3 million
The funds will support an initiative designed to enhance wellness and expand early education and childcare services in the region. The grant will partially fund construction of a new YMCA near the campus; development of a multi-modal trail in downtown Marion that will connect to the 62-mile regional Cardinal Greenway; and expansion of early childhood education and daycare capacity at several locations, including the new YMCA.
Butler University, Indianapolis, $22.5 million
Butler will use the grant to enhance the quality of life and place in Midtown Indianapolis, a 12-square-mile area that includes Butler and surrounding neighborhoods. It includes partial support to construct a new wellness facility at Martin Luther King Center, a community center in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood; build a new safety and transit hub; and enhance publicly accessible green spaces such as Holcomb Gardens on the Butler campus and nearby Tarkington Park.
Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne, $21 million
The grant will help create a space dedicated to STEM education and training, innovation and entrepreneurship in the growing Electric Works development near downtown. The grant will partially support the renovation of a vacant industrial structure and other improvements around the property; the expansion of affordable housing units; and implementation of various programs to activate the new space.
Trine University, Angola, $17.2 million
The grant will support an initiative to help prepare students and adult learners for current and emerging in-demand job opportunities in the region. The grant will partially fund the development of a design and technical training center; an e-sports facility for the campus and Angola communities; and a new community park.
Indiana University-Bloomington, $16 million
IU will use the grant to partially fund the redevelopment of a former industrial area into an innovation district less than one mile from the Bloomington campus. The district will include a co-working space to foster innovation, classrooms, and a community-convening space; housing developments; and public art and arts programing.
Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting, $15 million
Calumet’s grant will partially support efforts to create new community gathering places, enhance recreational and athletic facilities, and improve public transportation connections for students, faculty, staff and residents living in the area.
Manchester University, North Manchester, $12.1 million
The grant will partially support Manchester University’s efforts to develop Eel River Commons Park along Eel River in the downtown area; construct a multi-modal path to connect Eel River Commons with the campus; and renovate two campus facilities to enhance arts and culture programs.
“While varied in scope and reach, the proposed initiatives and projects reflect a commitment by stakeholders, inclusive of faculty, staff and students from these institutions, business leaders, government officials, and community leaders, to create vibrant communities where all residents can thrive,” said Jennett M. Hill, president of the endowment, in written remarks.
The Lilly Endowment is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Co. The endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location.
The endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown of Indianapolis.
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Education grants!! That’s smart!!
“The Lilly Endowment has approved grants totaling more than $300 million to 13 colleges and universities in Indiana to support community development projects aimed at improving quality of life…”
Here’s to hoping the grant dollars positively impact the quality of life of underserved communities within the proximity of these colleges and universities, but history continues to prove otherwise. It would be a great case study for endowments to fund organizations with leaders who live and breathe the data, research and strategic efforts directly connected to improving quality of life of underserved communities, rather than continuing to fund the already well-funded institutions who are completely tone deaf to the specific needs. Just a thought from someone who worked in higher education at one of these institutions for over a decade.
Wow, it appears to all be for campus beautification and community spaces with the exception of Rose (go figure). And all for private schools except $16M for IUB. How ironic when IUB is the only campus in the IU system with a solid donor base — that already meets IUB’s needs — and likewise, $30M for ND?!?! When ND already has more money than it can spend coming in from all corners of the globe and hardly represents the interests of the state of Indiana. Meanwhile, not a dime for any Purdue campus nor IU-Indianapolis, the latter of which has never been able to raise any material funding from donors.
First, the Lilly Endowment can give money to whomever they want within their mission statement. Go donate your money as you see fit.
Second, they DO give money to other schools, including public universities, including IUPUI (MILLIONS of dollars) etc.. They just did not do it in this particular funding round. Just tell the world you are clueless by your posting.
Third, they also give money for PLENTY of “non-beautification” projects, educational initiatives, scholarships, etc., not that it should matter.
Stop whining, it’s a gift. Just say thank you and carry on with your day.
? Excuse me, but I didn’t receive any gift. Did you?
Exactly, Steve, you are whining about a private organization giving a gift to other parties. It is not your money, *not* your business.
And, you are factually wrong. The Lilly Endowment has given many millions to public universities, including IUPUI, IU, Purdue, etc. This particular funding round just did not include them.
IU-Bloomington did receive $16M here, and yes, Purdue has received large gifts from the Lilly Endowment in the past. But I am unaware of any substantial gifts ever directed to IUPUI. That said, of course, a private organization like the Lilly Endowment can gift funds as it sees fit, and it doesn’t owe anything to the public universities of the state, or any other organization in the state. And as a resident of Indiana, I do appreciate what the Lilly Endowment has done for the state and many local communities. But if the Lilly Endowment is attempting to do the most good for as many as possible in the state, especially those in need, then it would seem IU-Indianapolis would be a logical recipient here, especially given the fact that a large portion of IU-Indianapolis students are first generation college students who must put themselves through college by working part-time or full-time. But if the Lilly Endowment prefers to instead fund campus beautification and community centers at already wealthy schools like DePauw and Notre Dame, then so be it.
Perhaps other universities chose not to apply this round. The article doesn’t say so either way. Overall hats off to the Lilly Endowment. Besides supporting universities they do an incredible amount of good in all 92 counties supporting community foundations and providing matching grants. The Hoosier state is lucky to have such a generous entity that calls Indiana home.
Looks like a great list of projects to me!