Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. has launched the Serving Neighbors Through Congregational Collaborations Initiative, a grant opportunity designed to help Christian congregations and charitable organizations work together to address community needs across the United States. The initiative aims to improve the quality of life of individuals and families while strengthening congregational vitality through practical acts of service, compassion and care.
The initiative provides a two stage funding process. During the first stage, eligible charitable organizations can submit concept papers for consideration for planning grants of up to US$50,000. Organizations selected at this stage will have the opportunity to refine their proposed programmes and prepare more detailed implementation plans. In the second stage, invited organizations may apply for implementation grants of up to US$5 million each.
Lilly Endowment anticipates supporting approximately 60 organizations through implementation grants. The larger grants may support programmes lasting up to four years. However, receiving a planning grant does not guarantee an implementation grant, as organizations must submit a separate proposal and pass the second stage of the selection process.
The Serving Neighbors Through Congregational Collaborations Initiative is administered by Lilly Endowment Inc., a private philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The foundation supports work in community development, education and youth, and religion.
The initiative recognizes that Christian congregations and charitable organizations often have complementary strengths. Congregations may have established relationships with residents, local volunteers and community networks, while charitable organizations may have specialist knowledge, service delivery experience and the capacity to address particular social challenges.
By encouraging these groups to work together, the initiative seeks to help communities identify pressing needs, establish meaningful partnerships and develop coordinated responses. Rather than simply funding an individual church's existing activities, the programme emphasizes collaboration that can benefit multiple congregations and community organizations.
Proposed programmes should advance two connected goals: improving the quality of life of individuals and families, and providing opportunities for Christians to practise their faith through service to their neighbours.
• Planning grants: Eligible organizations selected during the first stage may receive up to US$50,000 to develop their programme concepts and prepare implementation proposals.
• Implementation grants: Organizations invited to the second stage may apply for grants of up to US$5 million.
• Longer term programme support: Implementation grants may support approved programmes for up to four years.
• Partnership development: The initiative supports stronger working relationships between Christian congregations and charitable organizations.
• Community impact: Funding can help partners develop coordinated responses to local social needs and improve services for individuals and families.
• Programme planning: Planning grants may support community consultations, research, partnership meetings, programme design and preparation of implementation proposals.
• Organizational capacity: The initiative encourages participating organizations to strengthen their ability to coordinate collaborative programmes and sustain successful partnerships.
• Potential for wider reach: Organizations may develop approaches that connect multiple congregations and community service providers rather than operating isolated activities.
Funding amounts represent maximum awards and are not guaranteed. Organizations must meet eligibility requirements and compete through the relevant application stage.
Proposed initiatives should respond to genuine community needs and demonstrate how congregations and charitable organizations will work together. Potential areas include:
• Food security: Collaborative efforts to address hunger and improve access to food resources.
• Youth development: After school activities, mentoring, youth services and educational enrichment.
• Support for vulnerable families: Coordinated assistance that connects families with relevant services and community resources.
• Violence prevention and response: Joint work addressing domestic violence and other community safety concerns.
• Mental health and well being: Community based support and activities that contribute to individual and family well being.
• Homelessness related services: Collaborative approaches that connect people with appropriate support services.
• Arts and cultural activities: Initiatives that expand community access to arts, culture and recreational opportunities.
• Parks and outdoor recreation: Community beautification, park improvement and activities that strengthen neighbourhood relationships.
• Community engagement: Activities that help residents, congregations and local organizations identify priorities and work toward shared solutions.
The initiative excludes concepts focused on affordable housing and other property related challenges. Applicants should consult the official Request for Concept Papers for the complete requirements and exclusions.
The initiative is not an unrestricted international grant programme. Applicants must meet the relevant United States charitable status and organizational requirements.
Potential applicants should meet the following conditions:
• Be an eligible charitable organization with qualifying tax exempt public charity status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
• Have the knowledge and capacity to work effectively with groups of Christian congregations and local charitable organizations.
• Be positioned to coordinate or support collaborative programmes addressing community needs.
• Demonstrate relevant experience, relationships or capacity for community engagement and partnership development.
• Propose a programme aligned with the initiative's objectives of improving community well being and strengthening congregational vitality.
• Identify the community needs the programme will address and explain how participating organizations will collaborate.
• Present a realistic concept that can be developed during the planning period and potentially implemented over the proposed programme period.
Potentially eligible applicants include national and regional denominational agencies, faith based service organizations, church associations and networks, theological schools, church related colleges and universities, and national or regional community development organizations.
Individual churches and local charitable organizations seeking direct funding for their own existing programmes are not eligible to apply independently under this initiative. They may explore participating in a collaborative programme led by an eligible applicant organization.
Organizations based outside the United States should not assume that their local nonprofit registration qualifies them. The initiative requires compliance with specific United States charitable status conditions.
Applicants must prepare a concept paper and supporting organizational documents. The materials must be arranged in the order specified by Lilly Endowment and combined into a single PDF for online submission.
Required materials include:
• Official request letter: A one page letter signed by the organization's chief executive officer and the chair of its governing board.
• Concept Paper Information Form: The official form containing organizational information and details about the proposed programme.
• Concept paper narrative: A narrative of no more than five pages, following the prescribed formatting requirements.
• Planning grant budget: A realistic budget for proposed planning activities, with the request not exceeding US$50,000.
• Budget narrative: An explanation of the anticipated expenses and how the budget figures were calculated.
• Current year operating budget: A copy of the organization's operating budget for the current fiscal year.
• Annual financial statements: The most recently completed audited financial statements, or reviewed statements prepared by a certified public accounting firm where permitted by the guidelines.
• Exempt status and charity information form: The official documentation required to establish the organization's charitable and tax status.
• Optional letters of support: Up to three letters from prospective collaborators explaining their expected roles and interest in the proposed programme.
The concept paper should describe the organization, the rationale for the proposed programme, the intended collaboration, the anticipated level of implementation funding and the activities that would be undertaken if a planning grant is awarded.
Lilly Endowment will assess concept papers based on the quality and potential of the proposed programmes. Applicants should demonstrate:
• Strong alignment with the initiative's goals and objectives.
• A clear understanding of the needs and priorities of the communities to be served.
• Relevant experience working with Christian congregations and charitable organizations.
• Credible relationships with prospective partners and a practical approach to building collaboration.
• A feasible programme concept, with clear activities, responsibilities and anticipated outcomes.
• Organizational capacity to coordinate planning and potential implementation.
• A realistic budget that reflects the proposed activities and the organization's capacity.
• Consideration of how successful partnerships and activities could continue after the grant period.
Requesting the maximum available funding does not automatically improve an application. Organizations should propose a funding level that fits the programme's needs, planned activities and anticipated outcomes.
Lilly Endowment Inc.
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