Lilly Endowment Grant Boosts Nonprofit Infrastructure
The $10 million injection for Homes For Our Troops highlights the growing importance of operational capacity for scaling.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Do you prefer large private grants over public funding to support local veteran housing projects?
Lilly Endowment has awarded a $10 million grant to Homes For Our Troops to boost the nonprofit's operational and fundraising infrastructure. The investment is intended to support the organization's long-term growth and its capacity to serve veterans across the United States.
Why it matters
The grant aims to bolster the scalability of the nonprofit's operations, allowing it to improve service delivery and outreach. By prioritizing capacity-building, the funding addresses the infrastructure challenges that often constrain growth for large-scale mission-driven organizations.
The grant of $10 million supports Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit that allocates 90% of its expenditures toward program services. The organization has operated since 2004, while the grantor, Lilly Endowment, has managed charitable initiatives since 1937.
The players
Lilly Endowment
A private philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis that provides significant grant support to various national charitable causes.
Homes For Our Troops
A national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2004 that focuses on building and donating specially adapted homes for veterans.
The details
The grant is earmarked for strengthening the nonprofit's technological and operational infrastructure. Specifically, these funds will support the expansion of fundraising capabilities and storytelling efforts to position the organization for sustainable growth. This investment allows the 501(c)(3) entity to scale its internal processes to better support its veteran-focused mission.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: The $10 million grant was officially awarded.
2004: Homes For Our Troops was established.
1937: Lilly Endowment Inc. was created.
Market Landscape
This grant follows the broader philanthropic trend of prioritizing capacity-building over direct program funding to ensure long-term sustainability. It reflects a shift in foundation strategy toward strengthening the organizational back-end rather than merely funding individual projects.
Business operators should note that large-scale infrastructure investments in the nonprofit sector often lead to more professionalized outreach and competitive fundraising activity. Organizations should evaluate their own back-office efficiency to see if they can match the scalability of such well-funded nonprofits.
The takeaway
Foundations are increasingly backing the technological and operational 'pipes' of nonprofits rather than just their immediate programming. Business owners should monitor how these large-scale grants improve the competitive fundraising efficiency of non-profit peers in their local markets.
Further reading
For more on the operational shifts within the sector, visit Philanthropy.
More information
Learn more about the organization's work at the Homes For Our Troops organizational website.
Live Poll
Do you prefer large private grants over public funding to support local veteran housing projects?
