An in-depth research presentation by Dave Kresta, PhD that examines the many ways religious spaces can be reimagined to serve modern communities.
Resources
Resource Library
Lake Institute’s Resource Library collects and curates a wide range of resources that can help deepen understanding and practice at the intersection of faith and giving.
Search by keywords or browse by themes to find current research, leadership insights, inspiring stories, discernment guides, theological reflection, and more.
Featured Resources
The Faithful Generosity Story Shelf highlights congregations and other religious organizations who have sought to use their assets and resources in creative—and sometimes surprising—ways as an expression of faithful giving.
The Center for the Church and the Black Experience and Lake Institute on Faith & Giving were proud to co-host the 2025 Symposium on Philanthropy and the Black Church. Focused on faith communities in the Black Church, the event united leaders across sectors to build trust, foster strategic partnerships, and reimagine philanthropy through the lens of faith, legacy, and mutual respect.
Erica Dollhopf, Ph.D., Meredith McNabb, and Dr. Carlos Perkins explore the newest data on religious giving and share key insights from the Giving USA 2025 report.
Resources
Where to Start is a tool to help faith leaders consider what to do when they don't know what to do about resources.
Meredith McNabb addresses the opportunities and challenges congregational leaders face when preaching about money.
A Christian congregation offers a unison affirmation of generosity after the preaching each week.
JB Miller reflects on the 1918 pandemic and offers insights into what we’ve experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Atlanta’s First Presbyterian Church launched a social entrepreneurship program to recognize how God was already moving in their city and to provide business mentorship and financial assistance to aspiring social entrepreneurs.
What began in the '60s as church-based soup kitchen has transformed into an empowering, one-stop shop where visitors can pick out clothing, sign up for groceries, get lunch, register to vote, meet with health department and social service workers, get help with transportation issues, and more.
An English-speaking Seventh-Day Adventist church donates a $1 million dollar property to a Spanish-speaking Seventh-Day Adventist church.
What began as a one-time fundraiser becomes a yearly event for community-building, ministry, kindness, and play.
After a pastor receives a large donation to be used for community ministry, church leadership pursues alliances with local leaders to pay off medical debt.
Subscribe
Insights is a bi-weekly e-newsletter for the religious community and fundraisers of faith-based organizations that provides:
- Reflections on important developments in the field of faith and giving
- Recommended books, studies and articles
- Upcoming Lake Institute events
