Talking about the State of Faith and Giving: Reflecting on Lake Institute's 2024 Thought Leaders Convening

Abstract

In June 2024, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving did just this. We brought together fifty leaders of religious networks and institutions, organized philanthropy, donor associations, higher education, the private sector, and the non-profit sector, for a unique conversation about the state of the field of faith and giving. The two-day convening was designed to help inform Lake Institute’s ongoing research and education agenda, while building shared awareness and relationships among different kinds of organizations on the landscape of faith and giving for the benefit of those we serve and our common life. All these leaders are actively engaged in and impacted by the complex ecosystem of faith and giving in American society. And yet, notably, no one knew everyone in that room, and most people knew just a handful of other participants. Together, starting with the “30,000-foot view” of how faith and giving are changing, we crafted a conversation—and the beginnings of a shared vocabulary—across well-established silos. This brief report summarizes what we heard from this distinguished group about what leaders can do on the shifting ground of faith and giving, and what kinds of help we all need in order to lead well.