THE COORDINATION PROGRAM

National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders 

An initiative of Lilly Endowment Inc., hosted by the Center for Congregations

About the Coordination Program

In late 2015, Lilly Endowment Inc. made grants to benefit 28 organizations totaling more than $28 million in its National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges. In late 2016, a second cohort of grantees was added to the Initiative. In 2022 and 2024, a third and forth cohort of grantees was added to the Initiative. These grants were awarded to a variety of organizations across the nation that are using them to help pastoral leaders develop stronger financial literacy skills and provide direct aid to help these leaders reduce or eliminate education debt, participate in pension programs, pay off extraordinary medical bills, and address other financial challenges. The grants support a variety of church-related institutions: denominational pension and benefits boards; local and regional denomination judicatories, such as synods and dioceses; and denominational foundations. The institutions represent diverse Christian traditions.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. The Endowment exists to support the causes of religion, education and community development. Lilly Endowment’s religion grantmaking is designed to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes. To learn more about Lilly Endowment, please visit lillyendowment.org.