Indianapolis: The Lilly Endowment has announced a new round of 45 multimillion-dollar grants to theological schools across the United States and Canada, allocating substantial support to Catholic institutions as part of its ongoing Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The latest phase includes approximately $60 million directed to Catholic universities, seminaries, and monastic communities, with individual grants ranging from $2.5 million to $10 million.
The initiative, launched in 2021, aims to help theological schools enhance both academic formation and long-term financial sustainability, while equipping future clergy to serve diverse congregations. With these awards, the Endowment’s total investment in the project surpasses $700 million distributed to 163 theological institutions.
A number of leading Catholic institutions were selected for major funding:
• Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.) — $7.2 million
• Mount Angel Abbey (Oregon) — $10 million
• Saint Mary Seminary & Graduate School of Theology (Ohio) — $8.9 million
• University of Notre Dame (Indiana) — over $5 million
• Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary (Minnesota) — $10 million
• Loyola University Chicago (Illinois) — $10 million
• Santa Clara University (California) — $10 million
The Endowment said the grants reflect a commitment to strengthening formation programs across a wide spectrum of Christian denominations, including Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical, Orthodox, and ecumenical institutions.
Each of the Catholic schools outlined plans for partnering with dioceses and developing new initiatives to address pastoral challenges.
Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary said its $10 million award will launch “Stabilitas: Renewing Rural Ministry,” a nationwide project focused on revitalizing pastoral service in rural dioceses. Nine diocesan partners from Saint Cloud and Duluth to Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Dubuque, Davenport, Cheyenne, and Great Falls–Billings will join the collaborative effort.
Catholic University of America will channel its grant into a new leadership-development program for seminarians, clergy, and pastoral workers. The initiative, titled “New Wineskins,” will focus on forming stronger administrative and pastoral competencies, including ongoing leadership training for bishops. The Catholic Project, a research and outreach initiative on ecclesial culture, will serve as a principal collaborator.
“This initiative allows us to address urgent leadership needs within seminarian formation and among ordained and lay pastoral leaders,” said Susan Timoney, principal investigator for New Wineskins. “It builds on more than a century of our school’s commitment to preparing leaders for the Church.”
Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion, emphasized the strategic importance of cooperation among theological institutions.
“Theological schools are essential to forming the next generation of pastoral leaders,” Coble said. “We believe the most promising path forward is collaboration schools working alongside congregations, dioceses, denominations, and other partners to support and strengthen ministry in all contexts.”
According to the Endowment, this new round of grants will involve nearly 400 partner organizations including universities, church agencies, religious communities, and local congregations who will work together to bolster pastoral leadership in both established and emerging ministry environments.
The 45 newly funded projects will roll out over the coming years, marking one of the most significant philanthropic investments in theological formation in recent decades.