Lilly Endowment: Exploring Christian Practices Initiative

Please see the internal call below from ND Foundation Relations regarding the Exploring Christian Practices Initiative from the Lilly Endowment.

From the description: this program "seeks to fund organizations in developing and enhancing programs that help diverse individuals explore Christian practices to address spiritual questions and nourish their religious lives. Successful proposals will focus on retrieving, adapting, or refining practices from their specific theological and ecclesial traditions—such as meditation, prayer, retreats, discernment, pilgrimages, small groups, testimony, music, and scripture study—to serve groups both inside and outside their current constituencies."

This is a limited submission opportunity, which means Notre Dame may submit one proposal of up to $2.5 million for a period of up to five years.

For consideration, please upload the following information to this Google Form linked here by February 9.

Name of PI
Names of Collaborators (ND or external) + brief bios (see details below)
Project Summary (maximum of two (2) pages, single-spaced) which addresses the questions detailed below

For questions about the program and your eligibility, we encourage you to contact Amanda Retartha Senior Director of Foundation Relations, at amichael@nd.edu. For support on the Project Summary, including feedback on drafts, feel free to reach out to me directly (Kevin Gallin, Franco Institute, kgallin@nd.edu).

Website: https://lillyendowment.org/exploring-practices/
Submission Limitation per Institution: One (1)
Notre Dame Limited Submissions Listing: https://research.nd.edu/our-services/funding-opportunities/faculty/limited-submissions-program/
Internal Expression of Interest Deadline: 2026-02-09
Sponsor Application Deadline: 2026-03-25 (Interest Form), 2026-05-18 (Full Proposal)

Description: Lilly Endowment’s Exploring Christian Practices Initiative seeks to fund organizations in developing and enhancing programs that help diverse individuals explore Christian practices to address spiritual questions and nourish their religious lives. Successful proposals will focus on retrieving, adapting, or refining practices from their specific theological and ecclesial traditions—such as meditation, prayer, retreats, discernment, pilgrimages, small groups, testimony, music, and scripture study—to serve groups both inside and outside their current constituencies. Proposals must provide a compelling response to how these practices will be made accessible to "seekers" and others who are not currently connected to a religious community.

Proposals should detail how an organization will build its capacity to lead these initiatives, including the use of qualified staff, clergy, and lay leaders who can effectively mentor others in Christian practices. Furthermore, the Endowment values proposals that include a clear plan for evaluation and the sharing of insights with broader networks to foster learning and innovation across the religious landscape. Organizations may submit one proposal requesting up to $2.5 million for a period of up to five years to implement these strategies.

Required Internal Application: Upload the following information to the Google Form at https://forms.gle/XZrZhFoc7YoV4ENv7 by the internal deadline:

Name of the Principal Investigator (PI)
Names of Collaborators (ND or External):
- For each ND or external collaborator listed, include the individual’s name, department or unit, and specific role on the project. Limit each collaborator’s description to a maximum of three sentences.
Project Summary (maximum of two (2) pages, single-spaced). In reference to the attached RFP, please address the following questions:
- What is the purpose of the proposed project, and how will it advance the aim of the Exploring Practices initiative?
- What are the proposed project’s key activities, and how will they result in a coherent and effective strategy that advances the project’s purpose and the initiative’s aim?
- What are the anticipated outcomes for the proposed project over a 3-5 year period?
- What is the estimated funding request for a 5-year grant in support of this project?

Questions? Contact Amanda Retartha in the Office of Foundation Relations at amichael@nd.edu.