The Kosciusko County Community Foundation has received a $1.5 million Community Support Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of the ninth phase of the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT IX) initiative. The grant is intended to strengthen the foundation’s ability to serve local needs and support long-term community development across Kosciusko County.
The foundation is among 92 community foundations statewide selected to receive funding through GIFT IX, a Lilly Endowment initiative designed to enhance the capacity of Indiana’s community foundations. The program focuses on helping these organizations respond more effectively to local challenges while fostering sustainable and resilient communities.
According to the foundation’s leadership, the funding will allow for a more thoughtful and strategic response to community priorities. The grant creates opportunities to collaborate with local organizations, address immediate needs, and invest in initiatives that contribute to long-term community strength and resilience.
The Community Support Grant offers flexible funding that can be used to expand grantmaking capacity and respond to pressing local issues. The Kosciusko County Community Foundation will have up to three years to allocate the funds in alignment with community-driven priorities and emerging needs.
Currently, the foundation’s board of directors is updating its strategic plan using organizational data from the past five years along with feedback gathered through surveys of individuals and nonprofit organizations. This planning process is expected to conclude in spring 2026, at which time grant priorities, including those supported through GIFT IX, will be clearly outlined. Details on how the grant funds will be deployed are expected to be shared later this year.
Lilly Endowment launched the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow initiative in 1990 to help Indiana communities build philanthropic capacity, identify local needs, and support long-term vitality. Through GIFT IX, the Endowment has committed up to $271.5 million to community foundations across the state, strengthening their financial resources and their ability to respond to key community challenges and opportunities.
