Charity To Change

Program Description

In partnership with the Lilly Endowment, Leadership Foundations (LF) has developed Charity to Change, an innovative training program to work with churches and church collaboratives to reimagine how congregations can invest in long-term, systemic community change.  Through the Charity to Change framework, church leaders will not only build a closer connection to their local community, but develop a better understanding of their socio-cultural context and be responsive to the most pressing needs around them.  Participating churches will grow in their awareness of the assets that are currently present in both their neighborhoods and congregations, and thereby activating their capability for action that leads to lasting and sustainable change for the common good.

Salem Leadership Foundation (SLF) will walk together with a cohort of 7-10 participating congregations that integrates online learning with monthly gatherings that involve discussion, coaching, development of personalized work plans, and a meal together.  The cohort will work collectively to identify, plan, and implement a collaborative project that connects the abundant gifts within their congregations to the needs of their cities. 

The framework for SLF’s Charity to Change initiative will be delivered in a way that is contextual and relevant to our immediate Salem / Keizer community. There are 3 elements that make up the scaffolding to ensure that each church cohort is well-served: 

  • Active Online Learning: Delivered through a Learning Management System featuring world class theologians and community development experts.  In 9 units over 9 months, participants will access original and exclusive lectures, interviews, panel discussions, tools, a library of resources, and activities through Leadership Foundation’s online platform.

  • One-on-One and Group Coaching: Participants will have a coach that will work with them individually and as a collective to absorb the material and develop their plan for individual and collaborative action.

  • Collective Action: The cohort will work collectively to address a felt need within their city and apply the concepts explored within the course curriculum to address this need effectively, moving from fragmented, isolated, ad-hoc efforts (charity) to collaborative action addressing systemic issues (change).

 

A National Initiative Delivered and

Led in a Local Context

 

Through this initiative, Leadership Foundations have engaged 195 urban, suburban, and rural congregations over the past 2 years in 19 cities – representing diverse ethnicities and ecclesial traditions including 40+ different denominations.  Previous participating cities include Philadelphia, PA; Lexington, KY; Dallas, TX; Grand Rapids, MI; Chattanooga, TN; Philippi, WV; Savannah, GA; Dayton, OH; Minneapolis, MN; Seattle, WA; Wilmington, NC; Cleveland, OH; Lewiston, ME; Albuquerque, NM; Detroit, MI; Memphis, TN; Pittsburg, PA; and Tacoma, WA.

 

Corhort Requirements 

 

In order for the Charity to Change cohort to be most vibrant for all involved, we ask for the following commitments:

  • 1 Senior Pastor / Clergy or Church staff and 1 lay leader to join the monthly city cohort meetings
  • Be active in the online learning community and be available for sessions with your Charity to Change coach on mutually agreed upon dates
  • Complete the readings and assignments in each Module (this will include a blend of theological reflection, spiritual formation, and social action)
  • Complete all surveys related to the program

 

Application Process

 To apply, simply click here.

For more information and/or to request an Application, please contact Dwayne Hilty at dwayne@salemlf.org

Apply Now!