Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program

One of the longest-standing programs of Lilly Endowment is the Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program which began in 1987 as a program for Indiana's public school teachers.  It has evolved over the years to expand eligibility to teachers in private and parochial schools and to principals and assistant principals.  The commitment behind this competitive program is to help Indiana become an even more rewarding arena for seasoned teachers and other education professionals.

The program has supported creative projects that are personally renewing and intellectually revitalizing.  While personal renewal is the main goal of this program, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their proposed projects will affect their students' engagement in the learning process.  The Endowment believes that thousands of Indiana students have benefited from their teachers' participation in this program.   

For 2008, the Endowment announced that it will again offer up to 120 grants of $8,000 each to Indiana's public and private school teachers (including guidance counselors and library/media specialists), principals and assistant principals for projects of the individual's choice.  The Endowment again will provide funding  for up to 10 creative renewal projects proposed by teachers that will require additional financial support and time away from the classroom or school.  At this level, each individual teacher will receive up to $25,000; a separate grant of up to $25,000 will be available to the teacher's school district.

In 2007, the Endowment granted 120 awards of $8,000 each for the pursuit of independent projects of an individual applicant's design and choice. The Endowment also encourages teams to submit collaborative proposals for the $8,000 program.  Nine recipients were selected as "distinguished fellows" and received grants of up to $25,000. 

A statewide mass mailing of information about the Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program and instructions for applying is distributed in August. Proposals must be postmarked by November 9, 2007.  Applicants will be notified by early March.

The program associate for this grant program is Barbara S. DeHart, 317/916-7345.

To read about the 2007 participants in the Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program, click here.

For more information about the 2008 program, click here.