Indiana United Way, Lilly offering $80 million
Matching grants designed to develop capital projects statewide
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Local health and human service nonprofits will have a chance to build and grow in Indiana, thanks to an ambitious Statewide Capital Projects Initiative launched by the Indiana United Ways (IUW) and the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
From 2024 through 2028, this initiative will make available $80 million in capital project matching grants to select nonprofit organizations working in collaboration with local United Ways. The long-term goal of the Initiative is to accelerate development and completion of capital projects across the state that help to increase the availability and quality of essential health and human services.
“Thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment, Indiana United Ways can invest in compelling capital projects led by local nonprofits recommended by our local United Way members,” said Michael Budd, President and CEO of Indiana United Ways. “We’re excited to see the impact that this initiative will have on the availability and quality of essential health and human services in communities of all sizes in our state.”
Eligible organizations can seek grants of up to $1.5 million and be no more than 50 percent of the cost of a project. Organizations must apply in collaboration with their local IUW Member United Way. Locally, that is the United Way serving Howard and Tipton Counties. CEO Dana Neer explained that the local United Way already has reached out to the nonprofit community, inviting them to attend a meeting during which the full details of the grant program will be discussed.
“We want them to have some preparation time to think about what current projects or programs they could assimilate that would fit this grant,” said Neer. “So many responded that we had had to schedule a Q&A time next week for them.
“The biggest question has been, how much can they apply for, and what qualifies? I talked to Michael Budd and the Lilly Foundation. The thought is, anything could qualify as long as the program has a related infrastructure portion.”
Beginning January 2024, nonprofits directly delivering essential health and human services that have construction and renovation needs are encouraged to reach out to the local United Way during the early stages of capital project development to discuss the requirements of the initiative and determine whether a project addressing those needs may be eligible for funding.
Applications to support projects that are submitted by or in collaboration the local United Way will be reviewed by IUW’s Statewide Capital Projects Initiative Committee, which comprises volunteers with expertise in architecture, construction, nonprofit management, finance, and other disciplines. All final decisions regarding grants will be made by IUW.
“We're going to help agencies apply for everything we possibly can,” said Neer. “A nonprofit could receive $300,000 grant, but they do have to come up with matching funds. We believe they could use our local Community Investment Committee grant money for that, too. If your nonprofit is mission-oriented, has a clear purpose and mission statement, and is doing good work, we're going to look at you.”
Find your local IUW Member United Way and learn details about the Initiative at iuw.org/capitalgrants. IUW plans to begin accepting applications in January 2024. Nonprofits located within Boone, Hendricks, Hamilton, Hancock, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam counties are ineligible for the Initiative. These communities are served through United Way of Central Indiana’s (UWCI) Capital Projects Fund, which is also supported by Lilly Endowment.