What can $15,000 dofor a theological school? Quite a lot, as the In Trust Center’s Resource Grants have proven since 2018. These dollar-for-dollar matching grants – developed as an extension of the Resource Consulting program – help schools tackle bold, innovative challenges, from marketing and leadership transitions to course development and AI exploration.

Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., the grants are more than financial boosts. They prompt institutional reflection, collaboration, and long-term capacity building while balancing educational and organizational needs.

“It’s not just financial assistance – it’s the beginning of transformation,” said Ann Marie Glanden, In Trust Center vice president for programs. “We help schools address their core needs, a vital link in the chain that prepares effective pastoral leaders and enriches the religious life of American Christians. Our goal is to walk alongside schools, encouraging them to take ownership by identifying their challenges and finding the right resources to meet them. We support what a school wants to do or be, not what we want the school to do or be.”

What Schools Are Learning

Resource Grant requests have consistently centered on marketing, governance, technology, and course development. But what’s innovative or groundbreaking for one institution may be standard practice for another. Some schools use the grant to test bold ideas; others use it to build toward deeper institutional shifts. The flexibility of the grants allows for both experimentation and long-term visioning.

Catholic Theological Union’s project focused on digital “fusion theology” courses, blending theological concepts with media and the sciences to reach nontraditional learners.

“We’re trying to meet people where they are,” said Scott Alexander, Ph.D., professor of Islamic Studies and director of CTU’s Doctor of Ministry program.

Common Threads and “Aha” Moments

Recipients agree that transformation often starts with listening. The matching model builds investment and accountability, and focus and clarity to their initiatives. These modest grants have sparked bold experiments, helping institutions move from vision to action.

“What we hoped for was meaningful support for core elements of our project,” said Principal Rev. Roland De Vries, Ph.D., of The Presbyterian College. “Sometimes, building new things requires encouragement as much as funding. The encouragement from these grants remains vital.”

Practical Takeaways

Successful grant recipients emphasize that one consistent lesson is how the grant process became a moment of discernment.

“The clarity of the questions helped us think about the purpose and perspective of the project,” said De Vries. “We are learning to function in flexible and open ways that don’t compromise our institutional commitments.”

As Glanden noted, “This small grant has made a significant difference, proving that real impact begins with reflection, courage, and the right support.”