Happy Holidays from the In Trust Center
Wishing you a blessed and joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year! The In Trust Center’s offices will be closed from Tuesday, December 24, through Wednesday, January 1. We will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the New Year!
THE MAGAZINE
BOARD ELECTION
Four members of the In Trust Center’s Board of Directors were re-elected to three-year terms during November’s election, in which 90 voting members – 53% of eligible voters – cast ballots. Those re-elected were: Bryan Blankenship, the Rev. Dr. Kah-Jim Jeffrey Kuan, the Rev. Dr. Alton B. Pollard III, and Dr. Luis R. Rivera. Learn more about the election here.
NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Through the support of Lilly Endowment Inc., the In Trust Center is offering grants of up to $10,000 to support institutional boards’ strategic growth. These action-oriented grants are designed to help governing and advisory boards tackle key challenges, seize opportunities, or address critical issues. With a focus on learning and development, these funds can be used for projects like creating or revising governance documents and policies, ensuring your board has the tools it needs to thrive. You can learn more on the Board Development Grants webpage here.
PATHWAYS INITATIVE
Lilly Endowment Inc. is offering up to $325 million in an expansion of its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative to help accredited theological schools in the U.S., its territories, and Canada. The funding aims to strengthen financial operations, educational programs, and the preparation of leaders for Christian churches. More information about the funding can be found here. Information about the Pathways coordination program can be found here.
NEW LILLY FUNDING
Lilly Endowment Inc. announces the National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life, aimed at sharing inspiring stories of vibrant Christian faith to help people from diverse backgrounds connect with God. Charitable organizations are invited to submit concept papers for projects that:
Identify examples of authentic Christian faith and life.
Produce compelling stories in various media formats.
Share these stories broadly across diverse contexts.
The Endowment plans to award up to 30 grants, each up to $5 million, for high-quality storytelling projects. You can learn more here.
PODCAST
Top Topics
Roles & Responsibilities
Challenges
Opportunities
Board Essentials
Explore these additional resources that may be of interest to you.
The In Trust Center hosts learning community spaces throughout the year. Check out our upcoming events below.
ON DEMAND
Planning for board officer vacancies should start well in advance with an intentional, smooth, and carefully designed transition plan.
Theological schools are launching innovative projects to reshape education, but many struggle to achieve transformational change despite strong grant funding. Human nature, organizational culture, and governance practices often hinder progress. In this webinar, Drs. Aaron Einfeld and David Rowe provide tools to identify/overcome hidden barriers to change, offer practical steps for institutional leadership to move their institutions forward
Board members are typically recruited for their leadership, business acumen, and networks. Dr. Rebekah Basinger, project director of the In Trust Center’s Wise Stewards Initiative, will discuss how strategic questioning and interrogation skills are essential for effective board stewardship.
In Trust Center provides Resource Consulting to our members at no charge. Contact us today and let us guide you to the most helpful resources for your situation.
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