The Indiana FFA Foundation is set to undertake a $1 million renovation of its Leadership Center’s Main Lodge after receiving a $500,000 matching grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., officials announced this week.
The grant, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar, will fund a multi-phase project aimed at modernizing the facility and improving accessibility. Planned upgrades include replacing mechanical systems, renovating restrooms to meet accessibility standards, and addressing structural needs to ensure the building’s long-term stability.
The Main Lodge serves as a central gathering space for thousands of students, educators and community groups each year, making the improvements critical to maintaining the center’s role in youth leadership development across the state.
The latest award builds on a previous $750,000 grant the foundation received in December 2025 as part of Lilly Endowment’s Capital Project Initiative for Residential Youth Camps. That initiative awarded 40 grants statewide in its third phase, focusing on enhancing facilities and improving outcomes for young people attending residential camps.
Lisa Chaudion, executive director of the Indiana FFA Foundation, said the funding will help ensure the lodge remains a safe and inclusive space for future generations.
“These investments will allow us to continue providing transformative leadership experiences in a setting that is welcoming and fully accessible,” said Chaudion.
Foundation leaders said they are now seeking additional donations to meet the matching requirement, encouraging supporters to contribute to amplify the impact of the project.
Once completed, the renovations are expected to extend the life of the Leadership Center’s core facility while expanding its capacity to serve Indiana students for decades to come.
Taken together, the investment underscores a broader push to sustain and modernize spaces that have long anchored youth development in Indiana, blending private philanthropy with community support to ensure their future.
The project will not only preserve a vital gathering place but also signal a continued commitment to accessibility, safety and opportunity for the next generation of student leaders — a reminder that the durability of such institutions depends as much on present-day stewardship as it does on their storied past.
CLICK HERE to make your donation to the Indiana FFA Foundation Lilly Endowment Matching Fund.
