Lilly Endowment grants $12.5M to legal aid organizations

Lilly Endowment Inc. has issued $12.5 million in grants to three legal aid organizations to help strengthen their long-term financial stability, the endowment announced.

The grants range from $2.5 million to $7.5 million.

The recipients, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, Indiana Legal Services Inc. and the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, provide an array of assistance to individuals from low-income households facing challenges in areas that include housing, employment, domestic violence and family law, immigration and reentry following incarceration.

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic received a $2.5 million grant to help improve its long-term sustainability.

The grant provides funding for a multimillion-dollar endowment and sustainability projects, including enhancements to data systems, fundraising, strategic planning, board development, professional development, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and educational content.

“By strengthening our infrastructure, we can better serve disadvantaged individuals and ensure they have access to justice regardless of their backgrounds,” Erin Hall, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic’s executive director, said in written comments. “Our mission is to provide comprehensive legal assistance to those who need it most, breaking down barriers and advocating for equity and fairness in our community.”

The clinic offers free legal services, education and resources to disadvantaged individuals throughout the Hoosier state.

In 2023, the organization assisted more than 4,280 clients. The clinic’s 2023 outcomes also included serving 620 tenants facing eviction or other housing-related issues, helping more than 200 low-income taxpayers with their IRS problems, closing 300 humanitarian immigration cases, and helping 3,010 visitors receive a second chance through the expungement process.

Indiana Legal Services Inc.

The endowment issued a $7.5 million grant to Indiana Legal Services.

“This sustainability grant allows ILS to create its first endowment. The gift delivers resources which help to ensure our organization’s ability to serve Hoosiers with civil legal needs for generations to come,” LaDonna Sims, ILS board president, said in a news release.

The organization is Indiana’s only statewide provider of civil legal aid services in the areas of family law, immigration and housing. With offices in Indianapolis and seven other Indiana cities, it serves more than 15,000 individuals annually.

“We’re delighted to receive Lilly Endowment’s vote of confidence in our work. This grant recognizes the vital role our legal assistance can play in changing the lives of our clients across the state,” Jon Laramore, ILS’s executive director, said written remarks.

Indianapolis Legal Aid Society

The endowment issued a $2.5 million grant to the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society.

“We are deeply grateful to Lilly Endowment for this transformative grant,” John Floreancig, general counsel & CEO at ILAS, said in a written statement. “This funding will significantly enhance our capacity to plan for and sustainably address the increasing legal needs of our community, ensuring that every individual receives personalized legal support and assistance.”

The organization provides legal assistance in areas such as family law, housing, transportation and employment. It handles about 8,000 cases annually.

The round of grants is the eighth round Lilly Endowment has made since 2015 to support the long-term sustainability plans of charitable organizations based in central Indiana. Those rounds total $461.5 million going to 79 organizations.

“These grants are designed to help the organizations build long-term financial strength so they can better weather unexpected funding challenges as they continue to provide vital legal assistance to Indiana residents,” Ronni Kloth, the Endowment’s vice president for community development, said in a news release. “The grants are not intended to fund ongoing operating support, which organizations must have to meet the day-to-day needs of the people they serve. In fact, we hope these grants can inspire others to invest in the important work of these legal aid organizations.”