FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:         

Oct. 2, 2026

New Hope of Indiana receives $7.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) New Hope of Indiana Inc. announced today it has received a $7.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The grant, which will help fund a $6.5 million investment in New Hope’s endowment, builds on the nonprofit’s nearly 50-year commitment in central Indiana to actively supporting individuals with disabilities through compassionate, comprehensive services and unwavering advocacy for human dignity.

“This grant from Lilly Endowment will help New Hope build resilience, support its associates, and ensure New Hope can continue serving the community with compassion and excellence no matter what challenges the future brings,” said Allison Wharry, CEO of New Hope of Indiana. “We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for its commitment to New Hope’s future, as we look to our next 50 years.”

The grant does not replace support for New Hope’s day-to-day operations. Instead, it will advance six key areas:

• Establishment of an Endowment. Six and a half million dollars will be directed to create a permanent endowment, the first in New Hope’s history.
• Data and Technology Optimization. New Hope will review and consolidate aid and technology to better position the organization as technology rapidly evolves.
• Investment in Associate Development and Succession Planning. Funding will expand training, coaching, and growth opportunities for direct support professionals, team leaders, and organizational leaders with a concrete eye to the future.
• Strengthening Fundraising. The grant supports the capacity to grow new sources of revenue and reduce dependence on any single funding stream.
• Organizational Growth. The grant helps the organization identify and pursue mission-aligned growth that strengthens the broader network of supports for individuals with disabilities.
• Evolving Storytelling. Clearer storytelling and stronger community connections will raise awareness of New Hope’s impact.

About New Hope of Indiana:

Founded in 1978 by parents of children with cerebral palsy, New Hope of Indiana has grown into central Indiana’s largest nonprofit provider of residential services for individuals with disabilities. Today the organization supports more than 500 people across 53 sites with nearly 400 associates. Its continuum of care includes residential homes, day services, vocational supports, behavior therapy, and wellness programs—all guided by a commitment to human dignity and fulfilling lives.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.:

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation 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 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. Although the Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.