Converge North Central Awarded $1.25 Million Grant to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastors

Contact: Jonathan Wicklund, 651.278.8077, jWicklund@TroutCamps.org

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - Converge North Central has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The purpose of the grant is: (1) provide financial education for pastors (2) provide personal financial plans through a 3^rd party firm (3) when needed, provide money for their individual retirement plans. This grant will be implemented in partnership with the financial stewardship department of CNC, the lead pastor, and their local church board.

The project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders. The aim of the initiative is to assist national and regional church-related organizations in developing new or strengthening existing programs to reduce or alleviate some of the key financial pressions that inhibit effective pastoral leadership. This includes financial literacy and management skills of pastoral leaders through educational programs and other efforts to increase their ability to provide capable fiscal leadership for the congregations and ministries that they serve.

Converge North Central will give churches clarity on what they need to do spiritually/financially to build a community of faith that can be passed from one generation to the next. The three-step approach includes: (1) educate pastors with a personal financial plan helping them understand what they need to save now for retirement (2) accelerate funding for pastors that need additional help with retirement, we plan to use Lilly funding plus CNC funding to jumpstart pastors’ retirement savings with an infusion of cash (3) replicate this strategy by partnering with local CNC churches to help us provide this benefit for other pastors in CNC.

“I’m so thankful for our partnership with the Lilly Endowment,” said Jonathan Wicklund, Converge North Central’s interim regional president and executive director of Trout Lake Camps. “We know some of our pastors are behind in funding their retirement accounts and this grant serves our CNC lead pastors and their churches in a very significant way.”

The Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leadership grant was by invitation only and Converge North Central was one of 14 organizations in the country invited to apply.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.

About Converge North Central

Converge North Central (CNC) exists to start and strengthen churches in Minnesota and Iowa. Serving over 230 churches, CNC is a partner to build healthy leaders and congregations so they can more effectively share the gospel. CNC works closely with lead pastors, board members, and influential leaders to advance the kingdom and go farther together.