N - Z
Philanthropic Organizations
- The Omidyar Network
- Operation Family Fund
- The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
- The Robin Hood Foundation
- The Rockefeller Foundation
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
- The Ross Institute
- The Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation
- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund
- The Saban Family Foundation
- The Larry and Jane Scheinfeld Foundation
- The Skoll Foundation
- The Smith Richardson Foundation
- The Soros Foundation Network
- Tomorrow's Hope Foundation
- United Nations Foundation
- The Waitt Family Foundation
The Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation
Founder: Ruth Lilly
Ruth Lilly is a well-known philanthropist. The only heiress to the fortune left by her great-grandfather Colonel Eli Lilly who founded Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, 92-year old Ruth Lilly has spent most of her wealth in philanthropic endeavors.
Ruth Lilly does not go through the usual means of doing charitable works. Instead of giving money to non-profit institutions, she gives them directly to those who need it. Her works are emphasized on healthcare, health education, youth projects, and restoration of historical sites.
A Marion County judge has appointed two relatives of the heiress as her guardians until her death following testimonies that her physical and mental health are waning. Ruth Lilly however was not happy with the decision and has denied allegations about her incapacity. The Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation will now administer all her charitable works which is managed by her nieces and nephews.
Areas of Interest:
- Healthcare
- Health education
- Youth projects
- Restoration of historical sites
More about the Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation and its Notable Projects/Programs:
Ruth Lilly’s was already doing charitable works when she made the headlines in 2002; in that year she gave $100 million worth of stock both to the Poetry Foundation and American for the Arts. The Poetry Foundation, a small non-profit organization that publishes the Poetry Magazine, has been giving The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize in her honor since 1986.
Ruth Lilly’s philanthropy led to the establishment of several buildings and libraries bearing her name, all located in Indianapolis, Indiana:
- The Ruth Lilly Medical Library (Indiana University)
- The Ruth Lilly Health Education Center
- The Ruth Lilly Law Library
- The Ruth Lilly Hospice
- The Ruth Lilly YMCA Outdoor Center
Just recently, Ruth Lilly has donated $2.2 million to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, bringing up her donations to the museum to $26.4 million.
Ruth Lilly’s predilection for poetry has been her impetus to help in promoting poetry appreciation through granting fellowships that encourages the further study and writing of poetry. In partnership with the Poetry Foundation, an annual competition is held where five poets are granted the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship in the amount of $15,000 each.
The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, awarded annually, is worth $100,000. The prize is considered one of the highest honors any poet or literature enthusiast could ever receive.