Fayette Community Foundation and City of Connersville Receive $5 Million in Grants from Lilly Endowment Inc.
The Fayette Community Foundation (FCF) and the City of Connersville are proud to announce they have received two grants totaling $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative. The grants are two of 30 implementation grants being awarded through GIFT VIII, a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative designed to support the efforts of community foundations and their partners to strengthen quality of life for the people in the towns, cities, counties, and regions they serve.
The grants – $2.5 million to FCF and $2.5 million to the City of Connersville – will support the development of an inclusive playground at Roberts Park, the creation of an accessible loop trail for safe walking within the park, and the construction of additional trail segments to enhance connectivity throughout Connersville. These projects were carefully selected following a collaborative effort between FCF, the City of Connersville, and the Connersville Parks and Recreation Department (CPRD) to create CPRD’s new Master Plan, funded through a separate grant from Lilly Endowment. During the Master Plan’s development, CPRD and FCF actively engaged Fayette County residents through an online survey and multiple public meetings to gather valuable insights and feedback.
“These grants are a testament to what we can accomplish through collaboration and shared vision,” said Abigail Roszell, Executive Director of the Fayette Community Foundation. “We are immensely grateful to Lilly Endowment for its confidence in our work and their commitment to helping us create meaningful change in Fayette County.”
Marla Steele, Connersville Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent shared, “We are thrilled to receive these generous grants from Lilly Endowment, which will allow us to continue the important place-making goals that were set by Mayor Frank years ago. This funding will help us expand connectivity by developing walking trails around Roberts Park and linking them to the Nickle Plate Trail, as well as other key areas on the north side of town. Additionally, we are excited to create an inclusive playground in Roberts Park, ensuring that all members of our community can enjoy this beautiful space. 2025 is shaping up to be a year of tremendous growth for our Parks Department and our community. We are deeply grateful for the support of the Fayette Community Foundation, and we extend our thanks to them for writing this grant.”
In 1990, Lilly Endowment launched the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative to help establish and further develop community foundations throughout Indiana. Lilly Endowment hoped that Indiana’s community foundations could enhance the quality of life in their communities by convening conversations among people of diverse ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, occupations, races and cultural traditions about their communities’ most compelling needs and opportunities as well as the best ways to address them.
The Fayette Community Foundation and the City of Connersville extend their deepest gratitude to Lilly Endowment for this opportunity and look forward to sharing updates with the public as these projects progress.
For more information about the Fayette Community Foundation and its ongoing efforts to strengthen Fayette County, please visit www.givetofcf.com or contact Abigail Roszell at aroszell@givetofcf.com.
About Fayette Community Foundation
The Fayette Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life in Fayette County through meaningful philanthropy, strategic grantmaking, and strong community partnerships. Guided by our mission to inspire a spirit of philanthropy and leadership, we connect donors, nonprofits, and local initiatives to address community needs and create lasting impact. Together, we strive to build a vibrant and thriving Fayette County for generations to come.
About Lilly Endowment
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. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.