National Initiative to Strengthen Chaplaincies at Colleges and Universities
National Initiative to Strengthen Chaplaincies at Colleges and Universities supports campus ministries with programs that build their capacity to nurture college students’ religious lives now and into the future.
Funder: Lilly Endowment
Due Dates: October 29, 2026 (Information session #1) | November 16, 2026 (Information session #2) | January 11, 2027 (Stage 1 concept papers)
Funding Amounts: Up to $2.5 million per institution for up to five years; approximately 60 awards anticipated
Summary: Supports collegiate ministries in strengthening their capacity to nurture college students’ religious lives now and into the future.
Key Information: Open to accredited, four-year U.S. colleges and universities with chaplaincies or offices of religious life; implementation proposals require invitation.
Description
Lilly Endowment’s Chaplaincy Initiative is a national, competitive grant program supporting campus chaplaincies and offices of religious life. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of collegiate ministries throughout the United States to nurture the religious lives of college students, both today and into the future. The initiative focuses on building these ministries’ capacity to carry out that work over time.
The Endowment will support college and university programs that advance this aim and the five objectives outlined in its Request for Concept Papers. Applications follow a two-stage process: institutions first describe their interest and potential programs in concept papers, then invited institutions submit implementation grant proposals. Implementation funding may support programs for up to five years.
