Early Learning Indiana announces 86 Early Years Initiative grant recipients

Together, these grants will bring new learning and development opportunities to thousands of infants and toddlers across Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – Early Learning Indiana (ELI) announced today the 86 organizations receiving grants through the Early Years Initiative, a competitive grant program to help strengthen communities’ efforts to support the learning and development of infants and toddlers in Indiana. The Initiative is generously supported by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Through more than $31 million in grants of up to $500,000 each, the 86 organizations will work to maximize the critical period of growth and brain development in very young children during their first three years of life. The awarded projects and programs are designed to help Hoosier families support the cognitive, social-emotional and physical wellbeing of infants and toddlers.

Funding will support:

• The development of more than 1,500 new infant and toddler seats in high-quality child care settings in communities facing the most critical need for early child education services
• A total of 46 programs that will work to strengthen families through home visits and parent education offerings
• Efforts from 30 organizations to help with early detection of special needs or disabilities among very young children and provide responsive interventions
• 15 programs that will promote essential skills through early language enhancement strategies

The aim of the Early Years Initiative is to help organizations in Indiana meet the developmental needs of infants and toddlers (birth through age three) and surround Hoosier families with the resources to make the most of these crucial years of learning. The Early Years Initiative has a particular focus on infants and toddlers in low-income families, in families within communities of color and families where very young children are multi-language learners.

All 86 organizations will serve families in low-income households; 69% of grantees will serve members of communities of color; and 63% will serve multi-language learners.

Early Learning Indiana launched the initiative in March 2023 with support from a $50 million grant from Lilly Endowment. Organizations from all corners of the state responded to the request for funding. Awarded organizations include social service providers, faith-based organizations, community foundations, United Ways, child care providers, school districts, higher education institutions and other not-for-profit organizations. View the full list of recipients at EarlyYearsInitiative.org.

“We were encouraged by the range of proposals received from community organizations that care deeply about ensuring infants and toddlers in their communities develop the foundational knowledge and skills that support their future learning and development,” said Early Learning Indiana President and CEO Maureen Weber. "We only have a few short years to set our youngest Hoosiers on a path to thrive in life, and the work of these organizations across the state will enable us to make the most of these years while deepening our understanding about which efforts are most effective.”

Studies show a child’s brain is hardest at work during the first three years of life, busy creating the foundation for all future learning capacity, social-emotional development, and mental and physical health.

“The environment and experiences of a child’s first three years of life substantially influence cognitive, social, emotional and physical development and often affect long-term academic success and quality of life,” said Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education. “We are enthusiastic about the potential impact these funded efforts will have on very young children and their families in our state.”

The Early Years Initiative is a three-year effort. Early Learning Indiana will share details about additional funding opportunities and other efforts of the initiative in early 2024.share details about additional funding opportunities and other efforts of the initiative in early 2024.

###

About Early Learning Indiana

Early Learning Indiana is an expert and trusted voice on early childhood education that works statewide to provide leadership, advocacy and early childhood education services that continually improve the early learning landscape in Indiana. Early Learning Indiana operates 11 nationally accredited, high-quality Day Early Learning centers, a network of premier community- based centers used to advance the science of early learning, train the next generation of teachers and leaders, and instill knowledge and skills in the children we serve. Through regional and statewide programs, the organization works to ensure young children are empowered with essential skills to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Learn more at EarlyLearningIN.org.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private 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. 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.