A Legacy of Faith & Giving
The story of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving is rooted in a powerful idea: how faith shapes generosity, and how generosity, in turn, shapes communities.
Established in 2002, through the generosity of Thomas H. and Marjorie Lake, and their daughter and son-in-law, Karen Lake and Donald Buttrey, Lake Institute has become a national leader in the study and practice of faith and giving.
After the passing of Tom and Marjorie Lake in 1999 and 2001, their legacy continued with the appointment of Dr. Robert Wood Lynn as the inaugural director of Lake in 2002. It was just one year later that Indiana University Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI) received a transformative $5 million endowment to support Lake’s work. This investment helped launch the organization’s early initiatives and laid the foundation for the reputation Lake holds today.
Under the leadership of Dr. William Enright in 2004, Lake launched signature programs, including the Thomas H. Lake Lectures, early training programs for congregational leaders, Lake Scholarships, research programs, and the pilot offering of Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity (CCCG). Lake also secured its first national partnership with the United Church of Christ (UCC) in 2006.
By 2009, Lake expanded its reach into the emerging digital landscape with the launch of the first Insights e-newsletter, followed by the organization’s first national webinar in 2012.
Lake’s growth accelerated in the early 2010s with the introduction of the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF), equipping leaders across the country with practical and theological tools for fundraising. In 2014, David P. King, PhD, succeeded William Enright as the second Karen Lake Buttrey Director, continuing to expand Lake Institute’s research and teaching initiatives.
Entering a new era of growth, Lake Institute broadened its national impact through the launch of the Lake Institute Network of Emerging Scholars (LINES) Conference and the National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices (NSCEP).
In 2020 Lake introduced a new website to further expand its reach and accessibility.
Today, the heart of Lake’s mission remains deeply personal. The legacy of the Lake family lives on through every program, research initiative, and conversation–each one advancing a deeper understanding of generosity inspired by faith.
Read more about the history of Tom and Marjorie Lake and the founding of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving.