Melissa Spas encourages religious organizations to focus on strategic communications for fundraising and advancement of mission.
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
Professor Tyrone McKinley Freeman highlights the life of Madam C.J. Walker and the roots of her generosity.
David P. King, PhD shares highlights from the recent Covid-19 Congregational Study noting the many struggles congregations and their leaders are facing.
What Does Spirituality Mean to Us? A Study of Spirituality in the United States is a qualitative and quantitative inquiry into what spirituality looks like for people of all spiritual and religious backgrounds across the country.
We are grateful that so many of our partners curated extensive lists of resources for religious organizations and congregations during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Rabbi Adam Miller explains how his congregation moved from a dues to a pledging model by focusing on the importance of relationships.
This guide will help grandparents explore Jewish identity, family traditions, values and charitable giving by allowing them to pass on their wisdom as grandparents, L’dor Vador, from generation to generation.
Aimée Laramore, MBA shares how sacred listening can help us create a new culture of generosity.
Melissa Spas explores how some faith communities have gotten organized to support one another in the midst of crisis.
Mark DeYmaz, author of The Coming Revolution in Church Economics: Why Tithes and Offerings Are No Longer Enough and What You Can Do About It, sits down with Horizons CEO, Joe Park, to talk about his new book.
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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
