Rev. Dr. H. Fred Bernherd shares his experience with scarcity and abundance in a small congregation.
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.
This Insights explores how your organization’s “digital front door” shapes giving and engagement. Meredith McNabb shares practical guidance on strengthening your website and online presence to support donor trust and accessibility, while Emily Heck expands on this perspective with strategies for improving search engine optimization (SEO) and AI-readiness. Together, they offer actionable ways to ensure your digital presence both reflects your mission and helps people find—and support—your work.
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.
Resources
Marcia Shetler suggests that congregations ought to have a legacy plan in place for members.
Jonathan Walton, Ph.D. introduces the Prosperity Gospel and demonstrates how it has its roots, in part, in the industrial revolution and valorization of business enterprise.
Mike Little and Susan Taylor highlight the complexity clergy often have in their relationship with money.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Living Simply, including practical tips to cultivate contentment individually and as a congregation, as well as sample sermon topic outlines on the subject.
Live Simply is a companion resource for Giving Magazine Volume 18.
While receiving gifts of stock involves additional steps on the part of the receiving ministry, the ability to make stock gifts lets donors make larger, more tax-efficient gifts. This guide will help your congregation understand how to receive and receipt stock gifts.
Marcia Shetler offers characteristics and questions to help build the foundation of a fundraising campaign
This video from the Stewardship Fusion Conference features Rev. Adam Hamilton where he talks about stewardship in the church, paying particular attention to courageous asking and creating a culture of generosity.
This video from the Stewardship Fusion Conference features Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith where he focuses on practical advice for cultivating generosity among congregants.
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

