In response to the global need for cost reduction and improved efficiency in education, institutional leadership teams are exploring innovative approaches beyond traditional revenue solutions and cost-cutting measures. A promising alternative lies in adopting new business models with a strategic finance approach.

The In Trust Center offers a variety of initiatives to its members including the Governance Initiative, Pathways for Tomorrow, Resource Grants, and the Wise Stewards Initiative.

Former Fuller Theological Seminary president's rules for fundraising offer prudent and timeless advice.

What's an endowment and how do you use it? A financial expert who serves on the board of a theological school offers wisdom and insight on endowments.

How should a board and senior leaders consider the prospect of embedding? Rev. Dr. Byron Klaus, who has been through the experience and coached others, offers practical advice.

For many ministers, multivocational ministry is normal. Dr. Darryl Stephens, an expert on the subject, says it has been for the history of the North American church, and Lancaster Theological Seminary is forging new paths to train people for multivocational ministry.

After seeing an increase during fall 2020, enrollment at ATS-accredited schools has returned to pre-pandemic trends.

Brenda Bailey-Hainer led ATLA's staff from a big office in Chicago to a distributed workforce with people in several different states. She offers great insights and wisdom that can help any organization.

Click here for a few resources to help your institution work through the grant writing and sustainability process

As most institutional leaders have been dealing with immediate challenges — moving classes online and the complexities of transitioning staff, faculty, and students into new spaces — the focus has been on leading during a crisis. But how do you lead during a crisis and simultaneously lead out of one?A new post from the Harvard Business Review offers some guidelines and cautions.

Understanding enrollment and student retention is essential for any institution to thrive, but not knowing the basics of enrollment management is a common problem.

A recent issue of Trusteeship magazine features an article by Peter Smithtitled "How Should Boards Respond to Disruption." The article was written primarily for boards of universities and colleges, but itgoes right to the heart of what it will take to lead a seminary through the next 30 or 40 years.

When an issue of Trusteeship magazine has the theme of "Institutions in Crisis," you know you're in for some great articles on board governance. Handling crises — whether postponing them, mitigating their effects, or managing the fallout — is a big part of leading an institution. And there are all sorts of events and circumstances that may qualify as a crisis.

Presenter Donna Alexander, President & CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies, offers best practices for navigating conflict and crisis. She examines the crucial elements of defining conflict and crisis, identifying, and prioritizing affected stakeholders, utilizing effective communication strategies, and ultimately, executing a plan of action.

Presenter Donna Alexander, President & CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies, offers best practices for navigating conflict and crisis. She examines the crucial elements of defining conflict and crisis, identifying, and prioritizing affected stakeholders, utilizing effective communication strategies, and ultimately, executing a plan of action.

Dr. Rebekah Basinger addresses the opportunities and challenges that come with chairing the board of a theological school, which include how to design effective board meetings, enhance board member engagement, and develop the board for long-term effectiveness while giving attention to the board chair and president partnership and the critical importance of call in both roles.

The In Trust Center is pleased to announce a new webinar series focused on change management models. These webinars are presented by rpk GROUP, a national leader in helping institutions create sustainable business models that reflect both mission and market. This series includes two webinars. Webinar 1 provides a change management framework to include best practice for leading change initiatives and common pitfalls to avoid. This session will include a consideration of institutional readiness for change, especially around the use of a strategic finance lens.

This webinar series addresses the basics of change management and adaptive leadership needed to navigate change.

Join Josh Peskin from Millwork Strategies as he talks about strategic communications plans.

Dr. David Rowe, creator of TransformingCollege.com and former interim president of Lancaster Theological Seminary, will lead this series, helping participants turn mental models that explain how theological education is being disrupted into frameworks for overcoming that disruption.

Join faith-based fundraising expert, Dr. Lori Guenther Reesor, as she shows how to create bold, clear communications of a school's values and ministry goals.

Dr. David Rowe of AGB Consulting will introduce a new area of sustainability each week, leading discussions on strategic transformation and financial sustainability in theological schools.

In this dynamic webinar, Kristal Frazier will review the fundamentals of grant proposal writing.

Join keynote speaker, consultant, and founder of FundJoy, LLC, Kristal Frazier, as she provides proven strategies to help you connect with key prospects.

This webinar will address how seminaries can own their destiny by being responsible and "finishing well," rather than closing in crisis.

The Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, president of the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, discusses how the school is using its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant to create a new ecosystem that includes not just technology but also efforts to reconsider educational modes and methods. The school's programming includes a stackable curriculum and challenges traditional standards.

The Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative was designed by Lilly Endowment Inc. to create ways for theological schools in North America to train and support ministers for Christian churches. The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Deasy, director of institutional initiatives of the Association of Theological Schools, and Amy Kardash, president of the In Trust Center for Theological Schools, discuss key findings and themes. ATS and the In Trust Center are co-coordinating the initiative.

At China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), leaders are looking at ways to engage leaders and congregants of immigrant churches. They've done so with new programming aimed at helping congregations, including a Center for Public Theology. Drs. Frank and Anita Liu, leaders at CESNA, explain how they're doing that with a Pathways for Tomorrow grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Kairos University has worked to develop contextual, competency-based theological education, and now educates students across the world using their approach. Greg Henson, the president of Kairos University, and Nate Helling, the CFO and vice president of operations, talk about their work and how a Pathways for Tomorrow grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. is helping.

Dr. Kent Anderson, president of Providence University College and Theological Seminary in Canada, considers competency-based theological education as a return to ancient practices rather than a novel approach. He believes mentoring and hands-on learning can provide benefits in the field and emphasizes that institutional humility and a willingness to adapt are essential for the success of theological schools.

Hood Theological Seminary is using a Lilly Endowment Pathways for Tomorrow grant to educate students and alumni about financial planning, expand curriculum, and create anti-racism education. Hood's Dr. Karen Owens and John Everett discuss how they're working in the seminary, with alumni, and the community to accomplish the seminary's goals.

The Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson, president of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., has been at the school for more than 40 years. Reflecting on his time, he considers the future to be among the constituencies that he serves, and in this episode, he considers what the way forward looks like for theological education.

In Trust Center President Amy Kardash and the Rev. Dr. Frank Yamada, executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, open a new series, "Inside Theological Education," discussing current trends and what schools can understand about the field from them.

Lexington Theological Seminary is using a Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant to help create ways students can gain access to a theological education. The Rev. Dr. Loida Martell, vice president for academic affairs and dean, discusses how LTS incorporates prior learning assessments and other means to help students.

For the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, part of the Pathways for Tomorrow grant is about reinvigorating community as well as addressing key issues ministers work on, including mental health, isolation, and trauma. Dr. Derek McNeil, the school's president and provost, discusses the need for leaders to be resilient, adaptable, and open to partnerships and mutual support.

Acadia Divinity College is experimenting and discerning future paths for the Church and theological education in its Pathways for Tomorrow grant, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. Acadia President Dr. Anna Robbins and Dr. Jodi Porter, the project director, talk about creating a "sandbox," what it means to experiment, and how they're looking forward to the future.

Upon assuming the presidency at Hartford Seminary, Joel Lohr, Ph.D., implemented a seemingly routine strategic plan. However, after bringing in Rick Staisloff of rpk GROUP, he recognized an opportunity and charted a course that ended with a revitalized mission and a new name: Hartford International University of Religion and Peace.