In this issue, Erica Dollhopf, Ph.D., explores key insights on the Giving USA 2025 report, detailing the state of religious giving in America. Erica unpacks current trends, challenges, and explores generational shifts that are shaping the future of religious giving and philanthropy. Rickey Letson also reflects on the value of data when making decisions in religious contexts. These pieces offer a forward-looking view of the faith and giving landscape.

Wave II of the National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices (NSCEP) seeks to answer these questions and more, as it explores how congregational life and financial practices have changed in the 7 years, since our first study was conducted in 2018.

As Special Projects Director, Elizabeth Lynn Ph.D., prepares to retire at the end of the month, she explores the power of reflective conversation for faith and giving. Reflective conversation is core to Lake's own DNA, as it has been to her lifelong vocation as a facilitator and program leader. Elizabeth concludes that, as faith and giving shift and change today, there is an even more pressing need to connect community leaders on the ground of good conversation, and Lake Institute is actively innovating to help meet that need.

When a church member deeded a large plot of land to his church, the congregation leased 80 acres for solar farms, leading to a surplus of income and the Gratitude Project.

In an effort to make amends, the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland established a $1 million reparations fund to benefit Black communities.

A Detroit church has created a community haven where visitors can not only find spiritual support and connection, but can clean their clothes, too.

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.