Through the Thriving Congregations Initiative 2023, Lilly Endowment seeks to support charitable organizations in the United States in developing new or strengthening existing programs that will work directly with congregations to help them assess and adapt their ministries to their changing contexts as they move toward a post-COVID-19 pandemic future.
Donor Name: Lilly Endowment
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/31/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $1.25 million
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The Endowment is especially interested in programs that help congregations to:
- Explore and understand their rapidly changing social and cultural contexts.
- Gain greater clarity about their values and mission.
- Draw on practices from their theological and ecclesial traditions to adapt their ministries to the demands of their changing contexts.
The aim of the initiative is to help congregations thrive by strengthening ministries that help people deepen their relationships with God, enhance their connections with each other, and contribute to the flourishing of their communities and the world.
Areas of Focus
- Using digital technologies more effectively to support their ministries.
- Developing or strengthening outwardly focused ministries that serve those in their communities, regions and/or across the globe.
- Engaging in ministries that recognize and bridge deep political and cultural divides both within churches and the communities that they serve.
- Strengthening ministries that promote healing and address the increasing mental health and wellness needs of congregants.
- Recognizing and addressing racial biases and prejudices in churches and their communities that perpetuate inequities and injustices.
- Reaching and nurturing the spiritual lives of young people.
- Fostering ministries that are relevant to the lives of congregants and, at the same time, connect congregants more deeply to God.
- Leveraging church buildings and other physical assets more effectively to advance the congregation’s mission.
Funding Information
Eligible organizations may submit proposals of up to $1.25 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period.
Eligibility Criteria
Charitable organizations with Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) and public charity status that are committed to supporting Christian congregations are eligible to participate in the Thriving Congregations Initiative.
Funding decisions will take into consideration the following criteria, among others:
- Clarity of the program’s purpose.
- Quality of the design of the program and its potential to advance the initiative’s aim.
- A clear congregational learning process that engages congregations in a learning community as described.
- Evidence of the organization’s capacity to implement the proposed program and help congregations with one or more areas of focus as described.
- A realistic and credible plan to garner the financial resources needed to sustain its program beyond the grant period.
For more information, visit Thriving Congregations Initiative.