Merrillville-based Legacy Foundation and Crown Point Community Foundation received a total of $7.5 million as part of a Lilly Endowment initiative.
Legacy Foundation received $5.625 million. Crown Point Community Foundation received $1.875 million. The funds are part of the Lilly Foundation’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow initiative.
Legacy will use the funds to build unrestricted endowments supporting Lake County, to partner with local nonprofits to support community projects and programs and to build internal capacity.
The unrestricted endowment funds give Legacy the opportunity to respond to changing needs in Lake County communities. Building the unrestricted funds will increase grants for nonprofits serving Lake County.
Matching funds raised to support the foundation’s unrestricted endowment will be eligible for a $2 (grantor)-to-$1 (grantee) match. Matching funds raised for community projects and programs or capacity-building activities will be eligible for a $1 (grantor)-to-$1 (grantee) match.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Lilly Endowment Inc. for their support of the work of Legacy Foundation, and their belief that community foundations play a central role in strengthening communities and enhancing residents’ quality of life,” said Kelly Anoe, Legacy Foundation president and CEO, in a press release. “This opportunity will have a meaningful and lasting impact in Lake County.”
The foundation will also partner with the following organizations to provide a dollar-for-dollar match toward specific projects.
The organizations include:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana and Crossroads YMCA ($500,000)
- Food Bank of Northwest Indiana ($150,000)
- Legacy Foundation Women in Philanthropy ($52,500)
- Methodist Hospitals STAR Center ($100,000)
- Tradewinds Inc. ($100,000)
- YWCA afterschool and summer camp youth program ($50,000)
- Calumet College of St. Joseph ($100,000)
- Dunes Learning Center ($125,000)
- Ivy Tech Community College Lake County ($150,000)
- Lakeshore Public Media ($100,000)
- Friends of Marquette Greenway ($50,000)
- Friends of Marquette Park ($60,000)
- Heart and Soul Neighborhood Initiative ($25,000)
- Northwest Indiana Symphony ($50,000)
- South Shore Arts ($75,000)
Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. was created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Co. The endowment supports community development, education and religion for programs throughout the U.S.
Legacy Foundation is the community foundation for Lake County. It was established over 30 years ago. The foundation has awarded over $50 million in grants and scholarships since its founding.
