Lilly Endowment aims to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians by supporting congregations and their leadership. It focuses on ensuring congregations have leaders who are wise, faithful, and well-prepared, helps Christians draw on their theological traditions to face contemporary challenges and live their faith fully, and fosters public understanding of religion's role in civic well-being.
The Thriving Congregations Initiative by Lilly Endowment is designed to assist charitable organizations in the United States in either developing new or augmenting existing programs that directly collaborate with congregations. The goal is to guide these congregations in assessing and adjusting their ministries to meet the evolving demands of their environments, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative emphasizes:
The initiative aspires to bolster congregations in their journey towards thriving, defined by deepened relationships with God, stronger inter-community connections, and a significant contribution to community and global flourishing. Charitable organizations can propose projects up to $1.25 million for a duration of up to five years, aimed at achieving these objectives.
Programs should be designed to engage congregations in a structured learning process, encouraging explorations into social and cultural trends, clarity in mission and values in shifting contexts, and the revitalization of ministries through traditional Christian practices. A key component includes forming a congregational learning community to foster peer relationships and support among church leaders.
Areas of focus for funding include:
While these areas are prioritized, the Endowment welcomes proposals that address other urgent needs or opportunities identified by applying organizations, particularly where they have unique expertise or insights.