As we asked the Lake Institute team to distill their hopes for 2026 into a single word or phrase, a powerful collective vision emerged, one rooted in responsiveness, connection, collaboration, and confidence in our shared mission. 

Meredith McNabb captured the urgency and opportunity ahead with her hope that Lake will remain “responsive to the present moment,” especially as faith-based organizations navigate significant challenges and continue work that “is needed so much.” Erica Dollhopf named connection as her guiding word, envisioning a year when Lake strengthens ties among partners and ensures access to the highest quality research and resources at the intersection of faith and giving. Likewise, Kelly expressed a desire for “confidence in mission,” hoping that both Lake and its partners “move forward with confidence in our expertise, skills, conviction, and creativity… because there are enough resources for all to live in abundance.”

Themes of collaboration and togetherness also rose to the surface. Anne offered a succinct but powerful aspiration: collaboration. Amber expanded on that hope, emphasizing the potential in emerging partnerships that help Lake adapt its work “to the wisdom and contexts of different faith traditions, denominations, and cultures.” For Tasha, the word together best encapsulates her vision: “one of my favorite things that we do at Lake Institute [is] bring people together… to create opportunities for people to interact with each other,” which she sees as central to a hopeful future. And looking more broadly, David King envisions Lake as “vital for the future of our communities,” while Elizabeth Le’anani Coffee hopes to see the Institute “continue to flourish,” deepening its roots in research and relationships while branching into new conversations that shape our common life. 

Together, these reflections paint a hopeful, interconnected vision for 2026—one grounded in Lake’s mission and animated by a shared belief in what is possible.