From Vision to Victory: CCS Wins $5.36M Lilly Endowment Grant
- Ink & Insights
- 16 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Calvary Christian School (CCS) has reached a historic milestone.
Through the Marion County K–12 Private Schools Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., the school has been awarded a $5.36 million grant to expand academic programming, invest in faculty, and create new opportunities for students to thrive.
This transformative investment will allow CCS to launch new STEAM initiatives, strengthen academic support systems, and equip students with the tools needed to succeed in college, careers, and beyond.
For the CCS community, this grant represents more than funding—it marks the beginning of a new chapter in the school’s mission.
A Major Investment in the Future of Marion County Students
The grant is part of Lilly Endowment’s Marion County K–12 Private Schools Initiative, which aims to help schools launch or expand programs that improve academic achievement and increase students’ prospects for post-secondary success.
The Endowment allocated up to $150 million for private schools through this multi-year initiative. Schools participated in a three-phase process that included planning grants, implementation grants, and a competitive grant phase focused on large-scale, high-impact programs.
In total, the Endowment recently approved 79 implementation grants totaling nearly $85.7 million for public and private schools across Marion County. These programs focus on strengthening academic instruction, expanding student support services, and developing innovative educational opportunities.
Calvary Christian School’s award stands among the largest grants in this initiative.
Transforming the CCS Learning Experience
With this new funding, CCS will invest in facilities, technology, and student support programs that will significantly enhance the learning environment.
Planned initiatives include:
New Learning Spaces
The grant will fund the creation of five new STEAM laboratories and a collaborative learning zone designed to foster innovation, experimentation, and hands-on learning.
These spaces will support programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics while encouraging students to approach complex problems creatively.
Investments in Teachers and Staff
A key focus of the grant is strengthening the educators who shape student success.
The initiative will support:
Raises for all full-time teachers
Technology improvements in classrooms
Professional development and academic resources
New positions will also be created, including:
Technology Director
Director of Innovation
K–8 Interventionist
STEAM Lead
Part-time transportation staff
Expanded Student Support and Programming
The grant will also expand services that help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
New programming will include:
STEAM supplies and innovation-based curriculum
After-school tutoring and academic clubs
Project-based learning opportunities
Translation and communication services for families
These efforts are designed to ensure that all students have the support and resources needed to reach their full potential.
Removing Barriers to Student Success
The initiative also addresses practical challenges that can affect student opportunity.
Funding will support:
The purchase of a new school bus
Retrofitting an existing sheet-metal building to serve as a bus barn
Expanded transportation access for students and families
These improvements will help ensure that students can fully participate in academic and extracurricular programs.
Early Impact Already Visible
While the full grant has only recently been awarded, CCS has already begun implementing early components of its vision.
According to CCS Board President Patrick Rowell, part of the funding has already supported the development of the Student Success Center, a space designed to help students prepare for their futures.
“The Student Success Center allows us to help students plan for advanced college placements,” Rowell explained. “It has also created opportunities for job shadowing and career exploration.”
The facility provides a collaborative environment where students can meet with counselors, work with coaches, and explore pathways toward higher education and careers.
Preparing Students to Become Innovators
The most exciting element of the project is the future STEAM Center, which will introduce students to innovative thinking beginning in the earliest grades.
Rowell highlighted the significance of integrating arts with science and technology.
“When younger students engage in the arts alongside engineering, mathematics, and technology, it helps them become more innovative thinkers later in life.”
The STEAM Center will feature new robotics, audiovisual, and design labs while introducing innovation frameworks through a partnership with the Incubate to Innovate program.
This approach helps students learn how to ask difficult questions, embrace challenges, and develop creative solutions.
A Vision Years in the Making
For CCS Principal Katy Collins, the grant represents the culmination of years of preparation.
“Calvary Christian School has been building for about eight years on a foundation of excellent education and intentional spiritual formation,” Collins said. “This grant allows us to pursue our mission at a completely different level.”
She emphasizes that the school’s mission has not changed.
Instead, the grant allows CCS to fulfill that mission more fully.
“This hasn’t changed our mission. It’s allowing us to fulfill the mission God has given us in a greater way.”
Educating the Next Generation of Leaders
CCS aims to graduate students who are not only grounded in their faith but also equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The school’s Eagles Initiative focuses on strengthening academic rigor while maintaining a strong emphasis on Christian values.
Collins believes innovation and creativity will be essential skills for future generations.
“We want our students to become makers,” she said. “Problem finders, not just problem solvers.”
By encouraging students to wrestle with complex challenges, collaborate with others, and think creatively, CCS hopes to prepare graduates who will serve their communities with both character and competence.
The Value of Strategic Grant Partnerships
Pursuing a grant of this scale is a complex process, and CCS partnered with Exousia to help navigate the opportunity.
Collins noted that the expertise and guidance provided throughout the process were invaluable.
“Exousia brought an incredible level of expertise. They helped shape the vision and guided us through every step. There’s simply no way we could have produced something of that quality on our own.”
From refining the project vision to crafting the proposal language, the partnership helped transform an ambitious idea into a successful grant award.
Looking Ahead
Over the next several years, the impact of this funding will continue to grow as new facilities are built, programs expand, and students engage in innovative learning experiences.
For CCS, the grant represents more than infrastructure or programming—it represents a long-term investment in the future of its students and community.
As Collins reflects on the opportunity ahead:
“Ten years from now, I hope people will say this grant marked a turning point for our school.”
Helping More Schools Unlock Transformational Funding
Calvary Christian School’s success demonstrates what is possible when a clear vision meets the right funding opportunity.
Across the country, foundations and philanthropic organizations are investing billions of dollars in education, innovation, and community development. Yet many schools and nonprofits never access these opportunities simply because the grant process can be overwhelming.
That’s where strategic partners can make a difference.
At Exousia, we help organizations:
Identify high-impact funding opportunities
Clarify and strengthen their project vision
Navigate complex grant processes
Develop compelling proposals that resonate with funders
The CCS grant is a powerful example of what can happen when schools pursue bold ideas with the right support.
If your organization is considering pursuing a major grant opportunity, the right partnership can help turn that vision into reality
Contact Exousia for Grant Support
📧 Email: info@exousiagroup.com📞 Phone: 765-962-6581
🗓 Schedule a Consultation(New clients receive a FREE 30-minute consultation!)
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