Grants must be submitted each year by September 15. Proposals require a cover sheet that can be downloaded at the Lilly Network Website. The Lilly National Network Board reviews grant proposals at its annual fall meeting.
For all grants, applicants must consult the Associate Director, Jenna Van Sickle, before applying. Van Sickle is happy to offer direction and guidance and to read drafts of the proposal, since only the National Board reviews proposals.
In general, Lilly Network grants are designed to forward the mission of the Lilly Network, which is to strengthen the quality and shape the character of church-related higher learning. Proposals should directly or indirectly advance this mission at a local Lilly Network campus, among several campuses, or in a collaborative space.
Campus-based projects such as Small Grants, Mentoring Program grants, and Network Exchange grants should demonstrate institutional commitment at the highest levels.
Grant writers should note carefully the intended audiences for the various grant programs. Small Grants for faculty development should target faculty and staff at an individual Network campus or among a group of campuses; Mentoring Program grants should target faculty at a Network campus; Network Exchange grants bring together representatives from various Lilly Network campuses; while proposals for Regional Collaboration and Conference grants can name their intended audience, since the audience for these grants is not specified in the guidelines.
Because the Lilly Network office neither desires to nor can it oversee funded projects, proposals should be richly detailed, demonstrating adequate planning and foresight, especially in budgetary matters.
