In this Issue:

• • Lake Institute’s 2025 in Review
  • Our Vision for 2026
  • Favorite Moments of 2025
  • Lake Insights Wrapped 2025: Your Top 10 Most-Read Articles
  • Words for the Year: A Collective Hope for 2026

Lake Institute's 2025 in Review

By Tasha Gibson, Senior Program Manager

The Soul of Philanthropy Interfaith Program, on September 9, 2025, had the biggest impact on me professionally. I was able to be in person with two communities from different religious traditions but in the same city of Charlotte, NC, sharing space and stories about generosity. 

The gathering alone would have been memorable; however, I was invited to be part of planning conversations leading up to the event. Even before guests arrived, the planning team had already started working together for the good of not only those who would attend, but also the larger community.  

I learned so much from Rabbi Judy Schindler and Rev. Clifford Jones as they reflected on their personal experiences with generosity, but also on their religion’s teaching about giving, Jewish and Christian, respectively. And the subsequent panel discussion was a chance to hear from cultivators and practitioners of generosity. The panelists filled the discussion with autobiographical examples of why generosity was important to them and observations about how philanthropy gets activated in their own meaningful work. Before we left, we were all offered a way to give to any one of three local efforts that would extend and transform our time together into collective action for the good of the greater local community. 

I am deeply grateful to Valaida Fullwood, and the New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP), who hosted this event. I recommend The Soul of Philanthropy exhibit, now on display in Akron, OH, to any and everyone who wants to get a fuller sense of what philanthropy has been, is now, and can become. 

By Dr. Carlos W. Perkins, Associate Director of Engagement

As 2025 draws to a close, I am deeply encouraged by how faith communities continue to reimagine generosity and leadership in an ever-changing political and ecclesiastical landscape.  

Two of this year’s public conversations stand out for me: The Lake Lecture with Dr. Willie Jennings and the Philanthropy and the Black Church Symposium. The lecture challenged us to think about how theology and place shape our understanding of belonging, giving, and community, and Dr. Jennings’s prophetic call to live into a deeper sense of shared humanity continues to resonate across our work. We also hosted the Philanthropy and the Black Church Symposium, gathering over 75 partners representing faith communities, organized philanthropy, and intermediary organizations to explore how the Black Church continues to serve as a moral and institutional anchor, even as congregations navigate the widening gaps left by public policy failures. 

Through our Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising and Cultivating Generous Congregations seminars, we’ve now trained more than 500 Black faith leaders to lead with theological imagination and practical tools for sustainability. These leaders are reframing generosity as a spiritual practice and stewardship as a communal responsibility. 

Throughout 2025, we also witnessed a meaningful shift in many congregations—from a reliance on donation drives, offering appeals, and tithing campaigns toward a connection-first model of generosity. Faith leaders began to wrestle with the theological limitations of preaching and teaching stewardship only through obligation, moving instead toward intentional donor cultivation rooted in relationship and discipleship. This emerging paradigm reframes giving not as a transaction, but as an expression of trust, community, and shared mission—an invitation to deeper partnership in God’s ongoing work. 

Across the country, I’ve been inspired by diverse congregations repositioning themselves as anchor institutions, mobilizing resources to meet both spiritual and social needs. Many are embracing the year-round cycle of giving, refining their missions, and developing stronger cases for support that connect faith to community impact. 

Our partnerships continue to grow—with networks eager to learn, collaborate, and embody a theology of abundance. As we look to the year ahead, I am filled with gratitude for the leaders who remind us that generosity is not simply about fundraising—it is about faith, formation, and flourishing together.  

By David P. King, PhD, Karen Lake Buttrey Director and Associate Professor, Philanthropic Studies

Lake has continued to grow this past year as we have added some incredible leaders to our amazing team. Erica Dollhopf joined us in a new position as Associate Director of Research, that has allowed us to continue expanding significantly the research work we are able to do. And Elizabeth Coffee joined us this fall as Managing Director, adding another key voice to help shape the strategic direction of Lake as well as invite all of us into deeper reflection in all the ways that faith inspires and informs giving. Lake’s staff is made up of gifted leaders across the board, and looking back over this year, I am so grateful to get to work with these colleagues as we come alongside so many partners and networks that enable our mission to come to life.  

In this past year, I have seen the partnerships and networks through which Lake works both deepen and broaden. We have further established roots in working with long-term partners, equipping them to teach alongside our faculty, and co-creating together. We have also been invited into new networks where we are continuing to build trust and space to develop work together. That is most true in our educational programs, but it is equally the case that we have seen that grow in partnerships in our research and public conversation as well. I’ve seen Lake’s mission come to life as we have found ways to extend our work through partnership! 

When reflecting back on this past year, I have been struck by how much I have learned as I have come alongside religious and philanthropic leaders in their work. Whether those conversations have emerged from those that we have hosted in convenings such as the Philanthropy and the Black Church Symposium and religious leaders at gatherings such as Stewardship Kaleidoscope, I’ve been struck by notes of possibility and opportunity. While decline in resources and crises in communities are real, there is a palpable energy leaning into both hope and creativity as to where this work might lead. That’s been a takeaway from this past year that I am eager to take into the new year ahead.  

Favorite Moments of 2025

As we look back on the past year, we asked our team to share the moments that brought joy, connection, and inspiration in 2025.

ANNE BROCK, Associate Director of Operations

The first time our team was together in person with Elizabeth Coffee! After all the work it takes to hire someone, I was grateful for the confirmation that she’s the right fit for the team and that we will all work well together.

Tasha Gibson, Senior Program Manager

My favorite Lake Institute memory in 2025 was from the Fishing Differently Conference, sponsored by the Oikos Institute for Social Impact. The opening night of the conference, we had the opportunity to take a tour of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, PA. Later that same night, there was a worship service. I deeply appreciated the opportunity to be in that historic place. The rest of the conference was wonderful too. I’m grateful I was able to be a part of that gathering.

Amber Harter, Program Management Coordinator

Hosting our Distinguished Visitor, Jack Wertheimer, for dinner with our Advisory Board and key community leaders at The Alexander was a meaningful evening of connection and learning.

Elizabeth Le’anani Coffee, Managing Director

My favorite memory from 2025 has been the joy of exploring Lake’s founding and early strategy documents. There’s something sacred about tracing the original vision and seeing how ideas, hopes, and experiments took shape and continue to ripple through our work today. It’s been a grounding reminder that we are stewards of a generous legacy, still unfolding.

Meredith McNabb, Associate Director of Education

I’m really grateful to have gotten to celebrate Elizabeth Lynn at her retirement this year: she was one of the first people I got to know when I started at Lake, and it has been such a joy to learn from her and serve with her over the years. (And I’m so thankful for all the ways she tolerated our team-building excursions over the years, including this year’s staff retreat held behind the scenes at the Indianapolis Zoo!)

Erica Dollhopf, PHD, Associate Director of Research

Starting my job at Lake! Everyone was so welcoming and it was a great beginning to a role that continues to be exciting

KELLY DUNLAP, Senior Program Manager

While it’s hard to pick a favorite, a moment that has stuck with me was from our staff retreat in June. We mapped out our partners in this work – from research entities to religious networks to philanthropic institutions and beyond. We then reflected on how we fit in this larger ecosystem and where there were opportunities for new collaborations and connection. Through this discussion I was reminded of just how many talented and dedicated people were working on building more generous and connected communities and empowering faith leaders focused on building better world for all. With each person and network’s unique perspective and strengths, we have the capacity to take big strides forward.

David P. King, PhD, Karen Lake Buttrey Director and Associate Professor, Philanthropic Studies

My favorite memory was having our entire team together in Indianapolis this fall to begin to dream where our work will take us into the future! With such a great group of leaders, this work is such a joy to do!