The $500,000 grant will support statewide nature and conservation work over three years.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Feb. 2, 2026) – Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA), a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting, empowering and elevating Indiana’s conservation community, has received a significant grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. As ILPA’s single largest donation to date, the $500,000 investment will contribute to efforts to expand the organization’s capacity, further statewide conservation efforts and ultimately improve Hoosiers’ quality of life.
Over the course of the next three years, ILPA will intentionally allocate grant funds to drive key elements of the organization’s five-year strategic plan forward, focusing on initiatives that have the greatest promise for the longest-term impact on land trusts across the state. ILPA also continues to pursue additional funding to achieve all strategic plan goals.
“This grant will be transformative to ILPA’s operations,” said Andrea Huntington, ILPA executive director. “As the largest donation in our organization’s history, this investment sets a strong foundation that allows us to carry out essential conservation work with far-reaching benefits, like improving community health and wellbeing and enhancing workforce recruitment and retention. We are extremely grateful to Lilly Endowment and our entire donor base – past, present and future – for contributing to the pursuit of the ambitious goals we’ve set for the next five years.”
Starting internally, then transitioning to actionable opportunities for land trusts, the Lilly Endowment grant will provide ILPA with the resources needed for sustainable growth. Beginning by increasing staffing and improving management and reporting processes, ILPA will expand capacity to develop a Conservation Excellence Program, a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate and identify growth areas for individual land trusts, as well as commission a statewide economic impact study. This study will provide data-backed solutions to elevate and expand the impact of local land trusts.
Building on this work, ILPA will pilot the Conservation Excellence Program with interested land trusts, gather findings to improve the offering, and execute an audience analysis to understand how land trusts can best serve local communities in the future. The final phase will launch the Conservation Excellence Program statewide and implement findings from the audience analysis and economic impact study to inform a communications toolkit, aimed at providing organizations with consistent, evidence-based messaging for outreach. A final step will involve commissioning a feasibility study to explore financial needs for time-sensitive land conservation projects.
“Conservation is a team sport,” said Alan Morrison, Indiana Department of Natural Resources director. “ILPA and Indiana’s land trusts are key partners with DNR in our shared mission of conserving and protecting natural resources and cherished spaces across the state. This grant from Lilly Endowment showcases the importance of this shared mission and the impact it has on Hoosier lives and strong communities across the state.”
Established in 2004, ILPA is a nonprofit coalition of land trusts, government agencies and other organizations dedicated to restoring and sustaining land in Indiana. Through education, advocacy, collaboration and communication, the alliance works closely with local land trusts to protect and preserve natural and working lands statewide so Indiana communities can continue to enjoy nature for years to come.
“ILPA plays an essential role in the long-term health and growth of Indiana’s land conservation sector. Herbert Simon Family Foundation has been pleased to support ILPA since it began professionalizing in 2020, and Lilly Endowment’s investment serves as a strong validation of ILPA’s work and its importance to the state,” said Rachel M. Simon, Herbert Simon Family Foundation president. “HSFF is proud to partner with ILPA and looks forward to the opportunities this expanded scope of work will create for land conservation in Indiana.”
About Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA)
Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA) is a statewide, nonpartisan coalition dedicated to advancing land and water conservation across Indiana. ILPA supports and strengthens Indiana’s land trusts and conservation partners through education, advocacy, collaboration, and strategic communication. By building capacity, fostering partnerships, and engaging decision-makers and communities, ILPA works to protect natural habitats, working lands, cultural landscapes, and special places for present and future generations. ILPA envisions healthy, resilient communities where all Hoosiers benefit from and are connected to Indiana’s land and water resources.
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Caroline Wenokur
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