Phalen Leadership Academies Awarded Historic $25 Million Lilly Endowment Grant to Transform Educational, Health, and Economic Outcomes on Indianapolis’ Far Eastside
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – [Insert Date] — Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) has been awarded a transformational $25 million Phase 3 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Marion County K–12 Public Schools Initiative. This represents the largest single grant in PLA’s history and one of the most significant investments ever directed toward holistic student, family, and community advancement on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis.
Established to strengthen learning and long-term outcomes for K–12 students in Marion County, the initiative supports innovative approaches that respond to barriers affecting student achievement, well-being, family stability, and future economic mobility. PLA’s vision aligns deeply with these goals, and the grant positions the organization to accelerate its mission at an unprecedented scale.
A Five-Year Strategy to Improve Academic Achievement and Community Well-Being
Over the next five years, PLA will implement a comprehensive, multi-pillar strategy centered on academic success, youth development, health access, and family prosperity. Annual goals of the investment include:
Expanding College Access and Success
PLA will support at least 75 first-generation, low-income scholars each year with college knowledge programming, early exposure opportunities, FAFSA and scholarship completion workshops, mentorship, and one-on-one advising designed to increase post-secondary persistence and completion.
Eliminating Student Food Insecurity
PLA will replace prepackaged school meals with nutritious, scratch-made food for 2,500 students, ensuring children have consistent access to fresh, culturally relevant, and nourishing meals that improve health and learning readiness.
Building a New Health and Wellness Center
PLA will construct a dedicated Sean Cowdrey Health and Wellness Center that doubles youth participation in safe, structured out-of-school learning and recreation. The Cowdrey Complex will offer year-round access to fitness, athletics, and youth development programs—expanding environments where students can stay engaged, active, and supported.
Securing Economic Mobility for Families
Through Skilled US, a proven workforce development model, the initiative will help 1,000 adults annually earn industry-recognized credentials and secure living-wage employment of $45,000-$125,000 per year plus full benefits, directly elevating family stability and student success.
A Landmark Opportunity for the Far Eastside
PLA leaders believe this investment will catalyze generational change across the Far Eastside, strengthening the continuum from early childhood through adulthood. The initiative elevates PLA schools beyond instructional sites, positioning them as thriving community hubs that holistically meet academic, economic, social, and wellness needs.
“This is a historic moment for our scholars, families, and community,” said Earl Martin Phalen, Founder & CEO of Phalen Leadership Academies. “We are deeply grateful to Lilly Endowment for its belief in our children and its partnership in this work. This investment allows us to not only change outcomes today — but to rewrite the future for generations to come. The Far Eastside is full of brilliance, resilience, and potential. With this grant, we can match the determination of our families with the resources they deserve.”
Creating Long-Term Impact and Measurable Outcomes
PLA will collaborate with local employers, community partners, healthcare experts, philanthropic leaders, educators, and families to ensure the success of the initiative. Regular reporting, outcome measurement systems, program evaluation, and community feedback loops will guide implementation and ensure accountability over the five-year grant period.
The organization’s leaders emphasize that the investment is not only a funding commitment but also a recognition of the transformational role schools play in stabilizing and uplifting communities.
“This represents the most significant and transformative opportunity in PLA’s history to dramatically improve the academic and post-secondary outcomes of the children we serve,” Mr. Phalen added. “When families are healthy, financially stable, and confident in their future, children thrive. Lilly Endowment’s partnership gives us the capacity to build an ecosystem that makes that possible.”
About Phalen Leadership Academies
Phalen Leadership Academies is a nonprofit network of public charter and turnaround schools serving over 10,000 scholars across multiple states. PLA exists to ensure that scholars — particularly those in underserved communities — receive an exceptional education that prepares them for academic success and lifelong achievement. PLA schools and community programs support student learning, family growth, workforce access, and holistic community development.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937. The Endowment supports efforts to enhance the quality of life in Indiana and invests in major initiatives strengthening education, community development, and religious advancement across the state and nation.