The Hamilton County Community Foundation (HCCF) has secured a $6 million Community Support Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of the ninth phase of the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT IX) initiative.

HCCF is among 92 community foundations statewide receiving grants intended to strengthen local philanthropic efforts and improve quality of life in the communities they serve. The Community Support Grant provides flexible funding that foundations may use over a three-year period to address urgent or emerging needs identified within their counties.

HCCF President Danielle Stiles-Polk said the funding will allow the organization to respond more quickly to concerns raised by residents and nonprofit leaders. She said the grant will help support the work of nonprofits as they manage changing budgets and increasing community needs.

The foundation plans to spend the first quarter of 2026 creating a regranting strategy to guide how the dollars will be distributed. That strategy will be based on HCCF’s recent community needs assessment and strategic plan, with input from local stakeholders throughout the process.

Lilly Endowment launched the GIFT initiative in 1990 to help Indiana communities build philanthropic capacity and collaborate on local challenges. Through GIFT IX, the Endowment has made up to $271.5 million available to community foundations across the state.