Indiana Wesleyan University receives historic grant funding from Lilly Endowment

Indiana Wesleyan University has received its largest grant ever in the form of $24.3 million from Lilly Endowment’s College and Community Collaboration initiative, which seeks to encourage Indiana colleges, universities, and community organizations to come together to improve the local community and turn it into a place people want to live and work. Under the grant, Indiana Wesleyan University will be working with eight community partners on a variety of initiatives to improve life in the region.

According to an article on Indiana Wesleyan University’s website, Jon S. Kulaga, the president of the university, shared his gratitude for Lilly Endowment and for the community partners the school will be working with on the funded projects. He is quoted as saying, “We greatly appreciate Lilly Endowment’s generosity with this grant and deeply appreciate its confidence in IWU and community partners here in Grant County to create spaces that benefit all of our residents. We also are grateful for our community partners who have worked together to develop several initiatives that will continue to positively impact our region well beyond the five years of this award.” 

The funding from Lilly Endowment, combined with funding from the eight community partners, will allow Indiana Wesleyan University to undertake three major projects, each with a number of varied components within them.

The first project, which the university has classified as Early Learning, will implement initiatives that will improve early childhood education, resources, and support in the community. The Early Learning project will include the Thriving Grant County Grow Program, the IWU Early Learning Center for infants and toddlers, the “I Have a Dream” Preschool Academy @ REAL Community Covenant Church classroom, a library expansion, and employee-sponsored childcare pilot programs at College Wesleyan Church and Greater Grant County.

In the category of Community Wellness, Indiana Wesleyan University and its community partners will pursue projects such as the Carey Services Pleasant Run Apartments which will house individuals with special needs, City of Marion Next Level Trails, Gas City YMCA, and IWU “I Am Third” Arena, which will be a site for community events.

Finally, under the category of Collaboration and Sustainability, Indiana Wesleyan University will help establish the Community Foundation of Grant County’s Collaborative Hub, which will help continue future community improvements and initiatives.

Dawn Brown, who serves as the President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Grant County, shared her thoughts about the grant and the initiatives it will help accomplish. She is quoted as saying, “The Community Foundation was delighted to hear that Indiana Wesleyan University was a recipient of the CCC grant from Lilly Endowment. This financial investment, along with the collaborative projects planned between the college and the community, will have positive ripple effects for generations! This is a huge win for all of Grant County!”

For more information Indiana Wesleyan University, visit the school’s website.