National Initiative to Strengthen Christian Campus Ministries at Colleges and Universities
National Initiative to Strengthen Christian Campus Ministries at Colleges and Universities supports charitable organizations’ work to strengthen campus ministries and nurture students’ religious lives.
Funder: Lilly Endowment
Due Dates: January 25, 2027 (Concept papers) | June 7, 2027 (Invited implementation proposals)
Funding Amounts: Planning grants up to $50,000 for one year; implementation grants up to $7.5 million for five years
Summary: Supports national and regional charitable organizations strengthening Christian campus ministries and nurturing college students’ religious lives across the United States.
Key Information: Applicants must support ministries on multiple campuses; individual local ministries and single-campus ministries are ineligible.
Description
Lilly Endowment’s Campus Ministry Initiative is a national, competitive program supporting charitable organizations that resource Christian campus ministries at or near multiple U.S. colleges and universities. It seeks to strengthen these ministries’ capacity to nurture students’ religious lives today and into the future, across a broad spectrum of Christian theological traditions.
The initiative’s five objectives are to deepen understanding of students’ spiritual interests, enhance programs supporting faith and community, expand student leadership and exploration of Christian ministry vocations, strengthen local ministries’ financial and organizational capacity, and improve supporting organizations’ own resources and programs. Funding proceeds through concept papers and planning grants, followed by invited implementation proposals. Potential activities include worship and Christian practices, student mentoring and internships, professional development for campus ministers, ministry networks, fundraising, and support for ministries on additional campuses.
