Explore the latest insights from Giving USA 2026, including an analysis from Lake Institute's Erica Dollhopf, PhD, and additional webinar and podcast resources to help faith-based leaders understand today's charitable giving trends.

A synagogue brings together seniors and youth to talk about the change they want to see in the world, learn about local nonprofits, raise funds, and distribute grant money.

Despite limited financial resources, a Latino church in San Antonio has sustained a 20-year Thanksgiving meal ministry through the commitment and generosity of its congregation.

When a century-old congregation faced an enormous price tag for essential repairs, they found a way to stay, keep worshiping, and provide affordable housing for seniors.

Origin Church constructed a new building in hopes that their congregation would grow to fill it. When that didn't happen, they gave it to a local journalism organization whose values matched their own.

In this edition of Insights, we reflect on the enduring connections between faith, philanthropy, and civic life through the lens of the American Revolution. Philip Goff examines how religious communities and voluntary organizations helped inspire and sustain the movement for independence, while Tasha Gibson considers how these same traditions of generosity and collective action continue to influence our communities today.

Through neighborhood canvassing, a pastor felt his church was called to be a convener of organizations already at work in the community, rather than create something new.

Drawing on recent research from Givelify and philanthropic scholars, David P. King, PhD, examines the gap between religious donors’ desire to give consistently and their actual giving patterns. He explores how congregations and faith leaders can foster generosity by framing giving not simply as a financial transaction, but as a spiritual practice rooted in habit, reflection, and community.

In this issue of Insights, we’re highlighting an interview with Vivian Long and Elizabeth Le’anani Coffee, facilitated by Tasha Gibson. Together, they explore the intersection of philanthropy, lived religion, and cultural identity, with a specific focus on centering the experiences of Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community members.

In this edition of Lake Insights, students from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy reflect on how their experiences with Lake have expanded their understanding of giving beyond traditional frameworks. In response, Anthony L. Heaven, PhD, explores how diverse belief systems shape philanthropic study and practice, emphasizing the importance of moral imagination, equity, and inclusive approaches to giving.