A chance encounter with a man experiencing homelessness led to a comprehensive church-based ministry to help the most vulnerable in the community.

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.

Students from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy share their reflections on the intersections of faith, philanthropy, and the future. Kathi Badertscher celebrates the achievements of this year's graduates, recognizing their dedication to making a positive impact in the world through philanthropy.

Dustin Benac and Pat Bray share reflections from a recent pilgrimage exploring how theological education can more deeply engage spiritual entrepreneurship. Kelly Dunlap invites us to consider storytelling as its own kind of journey, opening space for discovery, reflection, and faithful imagination through the Faithful Generosity Story Shelf.

At this crucial moment, when homelessness is exploding, affordable housing is diminishing, and segregated communities are increasingly common, we need to ask the question – “Are our built environments fundamentally immoral?” In this year’s talk, Dr. Jennings invites us to imagine how a faithful practice of giving might build new realities of community in our towns and cities.

David P. King, Ph.D., reflects on the legacy and impact of the Thomas H. Lake Lecture as we celebrate its 20th anniversary, while this year’s lecturer, Dr. Willie Jennings, challenges us to think about the ties between philanthropy, religious giving, and private property.

Have you explored the full range of tools in Lake Institute's Resource Library? Anne Brock highlights a variety of resources designed to spark generosity, build stronger connections, and inspire innovation in your organization. In an Expanded Perspective, Rev. Stephanie Anthony shares how her experience with Lake Institute profoundly deepened her understanding of stewardship and generosity.

In the spirit of Ramadan, generosity takes center stage as a powerful force for social cohesion and spiritual reflection. Abdul Samad and Mohannad Mofawaz explore the intersection of generosity, Ramadan, and zakat within Islamic teachings and culture. Stephanie M. Williams reflects on how environmental stewardship is "an act of generosity that sustains both people and the planet."

How do we teach kids the value of generosity? In this edition, Meredith McNabb explores how adults can model generosity through stories, hands-on opportunities, and reflection, guiding children to embrace giving as a lifelong habit. Sandy Eisenberg Sasso echoes this sentiment, sharing how rituals and family traditions, like the tzedakah box and honoring bread at the Sabbath meal, pass down the practice of kindness. Together, these articles show that generosity isn’t just something we teach—it’s something we live and pass on through example and tradition.

A church's fixer-upper parsonage becomes a community center to preserve Latino culture and bridge cultural, generational, and denominational gaps.