ETHOS Innovation Center Awarded $1 Million Lilly Endowment Grant to Advance

ETHOS in a Bag (EIB) and Grade Level Certified (GLC) STEM Programs

ETHOS Innovation Center is excited to announce it has received a grant of $1,000,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support and enhance ETHOS in a Bag (EIB) and Grade Level Certified (GLC) STEM programs. This generous grant will enable ETHOS Innovation Center to expand its mission of providing innovative, hands-on STEM education to students in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties and in other communities across Indiana.These programs ignite a spirit of joy, excitement, and curiosity in kids exploring STEM through hands-on exposure to lab lessons that develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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ETHOS Innovation Center is one of 187 organizations receiving grants from Lilly

Endowment through its initiative, Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana.

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“This generous grant from Lilly Endowment is a game changer for us,” said Megan Baughman, CEO of ETHOS Innovation Center “It allows us to enhance our ETHOS in a Bag (EIB) program and expand our Grade Level Certified (GLC) STEM offerings across our region and state, reaching even more students in the process. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity which will help us continue to inspire and prepare the next generation of leaders to learn, play, and connect through our innovative STEM lessons.”

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ETHOS Innovation Center is a leading STEM organization dedicated to equipping young minds with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through its ETHOS in a Bag (EIB) program, they have already made a significant impact in making STEM education accessible to students of all backgrounds.

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The Grade Level Certified (GLC) STEM programs offered by ETHOS Innovation Center are designed to provide a comprehensive and hands-on science curricula that aligns with national grade-level standards, while showcasing our learn/play/connect instructional model ensuring that students receive a high-quality education. With the support of Lilly Endowment, ETHOS Innovation Center aims to further strengthen and expand these innovative and impactful programs.

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The ETHOS in a Bag (EIB) program provides students with hands-on learning experiences and STEM materials they can access from the comfort of their homes. These kits include experiments, projects, and resources, making STEM education engaging and accessible, regardless of the students’ economic or geographic circumstances. EIB also offers interactive field trips and engaging camps.

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ETHOS Innovation Center’s Grade Level Certified STEM programs are designed to align with curriculum standards in local schools, offering comprehensive education that ensures students are well-prepared to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving technological world.

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The $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment will be used to expand and enhance the ETHOS in a Bag (EIB) program, scale the new Grade Level Certified STEM curricula, provide professional development for educators, and support outreach efforts to reach underserved communities. This money will also further the dream of reaching more students with hands-on programs that create a community of problem solvers and critical thinkers.

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ETHOS Innovation Center is eager to leverage this grant to continue its commitment to nurturing future STEM leaders and inspiring a passion for learning in students of all backgrounds.

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“Indiana’s youth-serving organizations are crucial to the healthy development of children and youth across the state,” said Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice-president for education.“ The challenges these organizations have faced in meeting the needs of young people in recent years have made their work increasingly difficult. Lilly Endowment is pleased to support their efforts to strengthen programs and serve more youth more effectively.”

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Lilly Endowment’s initiative Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana is designed to help youth-serving organizations working throughout Indiana improve their abilities to promote the academic,  physical and social well-being of young people, ages five through 18. Lilly Endowment launched this program in 2022 and awarded nine national youth-serving organizations grants to help them expand and enhance the work of their Indiana affiliates or chapters.

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Lilly Endowment Inc. is a philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli through gifts of stock from their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. The Endowment is a separate entity with a distinct governing board, staff and location though gifts from the company remain the financial bedrock. Lilly Endowment Inc. is committed to its hometown of Indianapolis and its home state of Indiana but funds programs throughout the United States.