Duke Receives $6 Million Grant to Train Church, Nonprofit Ministry Leaders

Richard Hays, dean of Duke Divinity School, called the gift “a major boost to our commitment to offer support to emerging Christian leaders in a rapidly changing environment.”

“We are grateful for Lilly Endowment’s strong support for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity,” Hays said. “This program embodies a broad vision for enhancing Christian leadership in a variety of settings, not only in churches but also in other institutions that provide educational or social services to address human needs.”

Leadership Education at Duke Divinity was created in 2008 with a $14 million grant from Lilly Endowment. The grant helped Duke Divinity start several programs, including Denominational Leadership, which has equipped more than 150 denominational staff members with tools and strategies to navigate the complexities of institutional leadership.