Author

Alexis Carter Thomas

Writer and researcher

The Rev. Alexis Carter Thomas is a writer and researcher who lives in South Carolina. She has served in campus ministry at various universities, as a pastor of discipleship and as an adjunct instructor at Phillips Theological Seminary. Currently, she is a church consultant in matters of discipleship and race and an adjunct professor in the department of history and philosophy at Lander University and the program director for the Thriving Congregations project at Mere Christianity Forum. Thomas received her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School.

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Lilly Endowment Inc. announces Exploring Christian Practices Initiative

The Exploring Christian Practices Initiative aims to multiply opportunities and increase access to settings that help individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds explore and engage in Christian practices to address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, nourish their religious lives and grow in faith. 

In this open and competitive initiative, the Endowment invites charitable organizations to submit proposals for grants of up to $2.5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to develop new and/or enhance existing programs that present promising strategies for advancing the aim of the initiative and provide compelling and thoughtful responses to its guiding questions. The Endowment anticipates awarding approximately 60 grants and announcing grant awards in December 2026.

The Endowment will host four virtual information sessions (February 17, 19, 24, and 25) to discuss the Exploring Christian Practices guidelines for submitting a proposal. An Interest Form and Letter of Interest are due March 25, 2026. Complete proposals are due May 18, 2026.

Learn More and register for information sessions