N. Graham Standish
Executive director, Samaritan Counseling, Guidance, Consulting
The Rev. N. Graham Standish is the executive director of Samaritan Counseling, Guidance, Consulting in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, where he leads their Caring for Clergy and Congregations program. Before he took on that role, he was senior pastor of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, as well as working as a therapist and chaplain. Standish has an M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a master's and Ph.D. from Duquesne University. He is the author of several books, including "...And the Church Actually Changed: Uncommon Wisdom for Pastors in an Age of Doubt, Division and Decline."
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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