In this interview, Dr. William Enright, the first full-time director of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, speaks with David P. King, PhD about the legacy of Thomas H. Lake and Marjorie Lyrtle Lake and the early development of Lake Institute. Enright reflects on his decades-long relationship with the Lakes and his role stepping in as director in 2004, just two years after Lake Institute was founded.
Enright shares that, much like the Lakes, he grew up in a family where tithing and generosity were core values, shaping his understanding of giving from an early age. He recounts stories from his childhood and how those experiences eventually led him into pastoral ministry and work focused on generosity within faith communities.
The conversation highlights Enright’s belief that faith communities must talk openly about giving in order to cultivate healthy congregational cultures. He discusses several early milestones of Lake Institute, including the launch of the Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity (CCCG) program in 2006, which has since educated more than 3,000 leaders, as well as Lake Institute’s first congregational research study. He also reflects on the initial offering of the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF) in 2013, which has become a key program for training faith leaders in fundraising and stewardship.
Looking toward the future, Enright emphasizes the importance of continuing research on generosity in faith communities and encourages Lake Institute to remain innovative and willing to take risks. As technology and artificial intelligence reshape the world, he sees this as an exciting moment of opportunity and change for organizations working at the intersection of faith and giving.
Watch the full interview here.