Author

Craig T. Kocher

University chaplain, University of Richmond

The Rev. Dr. Craig Kocher is university chaplain and Jessie Ball duPont Chair of the Chaplaincy at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Previously, he served as senior pastor of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, and as associate dean of the chapel and director of religious life at Duke. Kocher holds a B.A. in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master of divinity degree from Duke University, and a doctor of ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. 

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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