The Reflective Leadership Grant supports an opportunity for structured reflection. Ideal applicants are lay or clergy leaders of Christian organizations, specifically those organizations that are advancing their mission following the complex opportunities and challenges that emerged and/or intensified throughout the past few years.

While all leaders are encouraged to practice some form of ongoing reflection, this grant aims to support those leaders whose work has made a demonstrable contribution to their organization's mission. These leaders are at a pivotal moment for stepping back and reflecting to assess their ministry (what has been accomplished), evaluate organizational progress (what is changing and what is stable) and chart the next steps in their personal and ministry journey. The Reflective Leadership Grant allows leaders to broaden their perspectives and gain clarity about what needs to happen next in their personal and professional life.

Since our founding in 2008, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity has observed established Christian institutions experimenting with surprising collaborators and alternative expressions of ministry. We also have observed new Christian ministries being created to address challenges in fresh ways. The leaders in these ministry efforts often operate with slim margins of both financial support and available time. By inviting the application for a modest grant of up to $15,000, we intend to encourage these leaders to consider the questions and issues that should be pursued and how to address the opportunities and challenges in the next phase of ministry at the intersection of their personal and organizational life.

This grant program is for leaders who are ready to design the next chapter in their ministry. It invites leaders to reflect on their journey, their organization's current position and how the two can evolve. Applicants may seek to cultivate new partnerships, expand their networks or reimagine practices and strategies in line with the organization’s core mission. Applicants might realize that their work needs to be framed or re-framed to cultivate new supporters and allies. Other applicants might have helped their staff or volunteers in expanding their ministry, but as the leader, they need time and perspective to chart out next steps for an enlarged vision.

A critical element of the application will be articulating why this is a pivotal moment for the leader and the ministry. Applicants must identify the opportunity they seek to explore and how a period of reflection will enhance their ability to lead with greater clarity and purpose.

Some questions to consider: What is the opportunity, and how might a season of structured reflection help the leader gain perspective? What is the vision of the work, and how do practices need to be reimagined to realign with the organization’s “why?”

Research suggests that such perspective-taking is an important component of discernment. For example, Harvard professor Ron Heifetz calls such an opportunity “balcony time,” which allows a leader to move from the dance floor to the balcony to gain a broader picture of the work, organization, community and trends. This balcony time could take the following forms:

• Extended leave or multiple shorter retreats for site visits and exposure to exemplary ministry models
• Learning experiences such as attending a conference, event or seminar and reflecting on insights gained
• Professional coaching or mentorship: engaging a consultant or coach for focused guidance

We recognize that such balcony time can have costs for the applicant’s organization and family, which can be accounted for in the grant proposal.

We welcome applicants who serve in a range of leadership roles, from project director to senior administrator, and who are working in a variety of organizations, including denominations, seminaries, church-related colleges, consultancies, congregations, Christian nonprofits, Christian social enterprises and others. We are particularly interested in supporting leaders whose work contributes to healing and hope in their communities by strengthening congregations, social services, schools and other organizations.

This grant is not meant to fund academic research or clergy sabbatical. For sabbatical support, please visit Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs.

Leadership Education plans to award upwards of 30 grants to the organizations representing the applicants who submit the most outstanding applications. In 2024, 50 Reflective Leadership Grants were awarded to institutions to support the applicant’s balcony time. See the winners here.