INDIANAPOLIS - The Julian Center just got a major boost from the Lilly Endowment.
The $1 million gift was one of ten financial sustainability grants totaling $48 million for Central Indiana human services agencies. The program is meant to help groups that serve vulnerable individuals and families strengthen their financial foundation to enhance their long-term impact.
In that spirit, the Julian Center will use some of their grant to add to their cash reserves for services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The rest will be used to improve technology and security, and support fundraising and outreach efforts.
“On behalf of all of us at The Julian Center, I would like to express our gratitude, not only for this critical funding, but for the longstanding support Lilly Endowment provides to help improve lives throughout our community.” said Catherine O’Connor, The Julian Center president and CEO, in a press release. “The financial stability this grant provides allows us to focus on empowering more survivors and educating future generations in order to end the cycle of violence and abuse. We’re proud that Lilly Endowment is invested in that work.”
To qualify for one of these grants, the organizations must be considered undercapitalized for how much they are called on to provide services. Although many of them receive substantial public sector support, they all rely on private dollars to make ends meet in providing vital services.
“The grants are designed to help these valuable organizations build long-term financial strength and resiliency,” said Rob Smith, the Endowment’s vice president for community development. “The grants are not intended to fund ongoing operating support that is essential for these organizations to meet the day-to-day needs of the children, families and individuals they serve. In fact, we hope our grants help these agencies more effectively attract additional support for their critically important work.”
This is the fourth group of sustainability grants the Endowment has made since 2015. All told, the program has given away $328 million to 49 organizations.
