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Fathers and Families Center Featured in Lilly Foundation’s 2026 Grantee Impact Report
- djones8252
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2026
Fathers and Families Center Featured in Lilly Foundation’s 2026 Grantee Impact Report
Report highlights FFC’s impact on father-child engagement and economic mobility for Indianapolis families
INDIANAPOLIS — Fathers and Families Center is featured in the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation’s (Lilly Foundation) 2026 Grantee Impact Report, which highlights organizations using locally led, data-driven approaches to expand health and economic opportunity in Indiana and beyond.
FFC is profiled in the report’s Economic Mobility section, which focuses on programs that strengthen workforce readiness, skills-based education, housing stability, and long-term prosperity in underserved communities.
The report highlights FFC’s work to help fathers become better people, parents, partners, and providers through fatherhood education, healthy relationship development, workforce preparation, skills training, and reentry support.
In 2025, FFC strengthened father-child engagement for 248 fathers and 945 children, according to the report. The organization also provided work and life-skills training to 361 fathers whose average annual income increased from approximately $12,000 at entry to $38,000.
FFC is one of two organizations featured in the report’s Economic Mobility section and one of several grantees recognized across the Lilly Foundation’s focus areas of economic mobility, global health, and K–12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
The report also recognizes a $3 million grant awarded to FFC by the Lilly Foundation in April 2025 to support the expansion of the Strong Fathers program and the organization’s facilities. The grant is helping FFC prepare to relocate to a larger, family-friendly facility, extend its geographic reach, and develop additional training models for fathers.
“The Lilly Foundation support allows us to expand what we know works, so more fathers can become the best version of themselves,” said Larry Smith, President and CEO of Fathers and Families Center. “Their children deserve nothing less.”
Since it began in 1993, Fathers and Families Center has served more than 27,000 fathers through services focused on parenting, employment, education, healthy relationships, and family stability. In 2025, the organization served 1,225 men across its programs.
This comes as FFC advances its $5.5 million Vision for the Future campaign. The campaign will support program expansion, additional staff capacity, and the organization’s move to Brougher Plaza, allowing FFC to reach additional fathers and families.
To learn more about Fathers and Families Center and its Vision for the Future, visit ffcindiana.org.
About Fathers and Families Center
Fathers and Families Center equips fathers and empowers families so children thrive. Since 1993, Fathers and Families Center has helped fathers across Central Indiana build stronger relationships with their children, gain stability, and take practical steps toward a stronger future for themselves and their families.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Drew Jones
Communications Manager
Fathers and Families Center
317-671-7943