The Lilly Endowment, Inc. is an Indiana-polis-based private philantrhopic foundation established in 1873 by the members of the Lilly family; J.K. Lilly Sr., J.K. Lilly Jr., and Eli Lilly.
The foundation was formed through the stock gifts of their pharmaceutical company called the Eli Lilly and Company. However, the foundation is considered to be a separate entity from the company.
The foundation aims to help people in Indianapolis build a better life through supporting efforts of national significance and international projects.
Co-founders William Mann and David Mravyan devised the Sensimat during a mandatory project for their MBA at the Richard Ivey School of Business in Canada. Sensimat is a device that helps manage and assess pressure among wheelchair users.