Pathways for Tomorrow Coordination Program
Welcome
Welcome to the coordination page for the next round of the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. (See the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways page here.) The coordination program is led by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in partnership with the In Trust Center for Theological Schools. The coordination program exists to provide resources, education, and learning spaces to help schools thrive with their Pathways grant. Below, you’ll find information about the program for current grantees and for people interested about the impact of the initiative.
What is Pathways for Tomorrow?
Lilly Endowment Inc. unveiled the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative and awarded funding to 116 ATS-accredited schools in 2021 and 2022 in an effort to help theological schools strengthen their ability to prepare pastoral leaders for Christian churches into the future. Information about that funding can be found here.
In November 2024, Lilly Endowment Inc. announced new funding for Individual School Implementation Grants of up to $1 million per school; and Large-Scale Collaborative Grants, which offer up to $10 million for school collaborations. The deadline for submitting funding requests has passed. The funding is being announced in late 2025.
FOR CURRENT GRANTEES
Current grantees should have access to the ATS Canvas page and be on the email lists of the coordination program for ongoing work by both ATS and the In Trust Center. To submit your Pathways Phase 1 (2025) grant report by December 15, 2025, click here. You can view a sample report here. Reach the coordination program here.
FOR NEW GRANTEES
There will be information sessions related to the new grants for project directors and school leaders. Those sessions will be announced via email to the contacts listed on your grant application. Please look for those. If you have questions, please email the Coordination Program here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Both ATS and the In Trust Center have curated a significant amount of information, stories, podcasts, and webinars about the Initiative. You can find out more below.
What is Coordination?
The Association of Theological Schools and the In Trust Center are co-hosting the Pathways for Tomorrow Coordination Program. The goal of coordination is to support the resource needs of grantees throughout the life of the initiative. Together, ATS and the In Trust Center partner to provide resources, conduct research, and create and foster learning communities to help encourage innovation and collaboration.
Below, you’ll find contacts and other information with helpful resources.
SUPPORT AND MORE INFORMATION
The Coordination Program is led by the Association of Theological Schools and the In Trust Center for Theological Schools, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The logos below are links to coordination pages. On the ATS page, you’ll find links to Pathways for Tomorrow reports, research, and grantees. On the In Trust Center’s page, you’ll find in-depth stories about school projects, granteee stories, podcast episodes, and topical webinars.
Contact ATS
To connect with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) about planning grants, resources for managing grants, research and data on theological education, and information about what we are learning from the first wave of Pathways grants, contact: The ATS Pathways coordination program via email or go to the ATS website.
Contact the In Trust Center
To connect with the In Trust Center for help and support and to find consultant and proposal resources, learning community spaces, and peer conversation partners, email: In Trust Center or see the In Trust Center Pathways site.