Jan. 20, 2023

Lilly Endowment Inc. has made a $1.6 million grant to Coburn Place to support capacity-building efforts during the next three years.

The grant is one of 28 grants totaling $41 million that are designed to help human services organizations and community centers in Central Indiana enhance their ability to meet the needs of the individuals and families who they serve.
Coburn Place will use the grant to improve outcomes for survivors, build capacity to innovate, and reshape existing structures – programmatic, financial, data reporting and staff.

Coburn Place offers compassionate support and safe housing choices for survivors of domestic violence. The grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. provides additional internal capacity that supports the simultaneous build-out and function of the systems necessary to meet that mission. It also allows the organization to deepen and strengthen its bench of diverse leaders at Coburn Place to improve the quality of services and staff retention.

“The strains on staff and program quality caused by the pandemic and the unprecedented levels of domestic violence in Central Indiana showed us the limits of our infrastructure,” says Coburn Place President and CEO Rachel Scott. “This funding – coming right on the heels of our redesigned mission, vision, and values – enables us to redesign and rebuild the programs that are crucial to healing and fresh starts for survivors. It’s great news for survivors and our staff.”

“Indianapolis has a robust network of organizations dedicated to helping people overcome challenges and begin to build satisfying and self-sufficient lives,” said Ronni Kloth, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for community development. “These agencies help Indianapolis be a more compassionate and caring city, and we hope these grants help strengthen their ability to meet the demand for their critical services.”

About Coburn Place
Coburn Place offers compassionate support and safe housing choices for survivors of domestic violence and their children, illuminating a path forward. It is Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive provider of longer-term housing options for survivors. Coburn Place offers on-site transitional housing along with community-based housing in a Domestic Violence Housing First approach to identify and eliminate housing barriers and improve survivors’ overall housing stability and well-being.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion, and it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.