Opportunity To Learn Project
Academic success strengthens students’ opportunity and ability to thrive now and in the future. Yet many Hoosier students’ chances to reach their full learning potential are disrupted or impeded by factors outside of the classroom. Indiana Lifelong Learning Projects, Inc. (ILLP) is pleased to announce the Opportunity to Learn Project, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., which aims to help reduce the non-academic barriers that hinder K-12 students’ academic success in Indiana. Eligible public school corporations, charter schools, and charter networks located or operating in Indiana, outside of Marion County, can apply for two grants through the Project: a planning grant and a competitive grant.
Grant Opportunities
ILLP invites public school corporations, charter schools, and charter networks located or operating in Indiana, outside of Marion County, to propose new, enhanced, or expanded programs and projects (“programs”) that address non-academic barriers that may be experienced by their students.
Eligible organizations can apply for two grants through the Opportunity to Learn Project:
Planning Grant
To assist applicants preparing to participate in the competitive grant opportunity, ILLP expects to award planning grants (ranging from $50K to $100K) totaling approximately $22M.
Planning grant request deadline is no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on June 26, 2026.
ILLP tentatively plans to evaluate planning grant requests and award planning grants by July 31, 2026.
Competitive Grant
ILLP expects to award competitive grants (ranging from $600K to $17.5M) totaling up to $373M to support programs to be implemented over a period of up to three (3) years.
Competitive grant proposal deadline is no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on December 18, 2026.
ILLP tentatively plans to announce competitive grant awards by mid- 2027.
Planning Grant Details
ILLP invites eligible applicants to request a planning grant to develop strategies and competitive proposals that are responsive to the aim of the Opportunity to Learn Project and to specific non-academic barriers to academic success in their community.
Funds from these planning grants may be used for a period of up to one year to cover a variety of planning activities and resulting expenses related to the aim of the Opportunity to Learn Project, such as research regarding promising practices, consultants, staff time, data analysis, conferences and seminars, travel to gather information and ideas, and preparation of a competitive grant proposal.
Additional details about planning grants can be found in the Request for Proposals.
Applicants must submit planning grant requests via the online portal linked below no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on June 26, 2026.
Competitive Grant Details
Through this $373M competitive grant opportunity, ILLP will award grants to selected public school corporations, charter schools, and charter networks to pursue strategies, potentially in collaboration with other organizations, to help reduce the non-academic barriers that hinder K-12 students’ academic success in Indiana. ILLP will support compelling programs that are tailored to the specific non-academic barriers to academic success in each community and are evidence-based.
Applicants may initiate new programs or enhance or expand existing programs to meet the aim of the Opportunity to Learn Project. ILLP welcomes a range of ideas and urges thoughtful development of evidence-based programs.
Additional details about competitive grants can be found in the Request for Proposals.
ILLP will accept competitive grant proposals submitted via the online portal linked below until 5:00 p.m. ET on December 18, 2026.
Key Dates
Informational Webinars
Senior organizational leaders and the team member(s) expected to lead an applicant’s response to the RFP are encouraged to attend one of the following informational webinars.
Planning Grant
Competitive Grant
Frequently Asked Questions
Read the Frequently Asked Questions that summarize and respond to commonly asked and submitted questions about the Opportunity to Learn Project.
Additional Resources
ILLP has compiled a non-exhaustive list of resources that provide data related to the non-academic factors that influence or provide context with respect to academic success. Applicants may consult these and other resources to assist in the preparation of proposals. The inclusion of these resources is not intended to reflect their importance or be an endorsement by ILLP of any views expressed or products or services offered.