IWU Gets $500,000 Grant from Lilly Endowment
By Alan Miller
9/29/05

Indiana Wesleyan University has received a $500,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help ensure funding for IWU's Center for Life Calling and Leadership through July 2010.

The IWU Center initially was funded with a five-year, $2 million grant from Lilly Endowment that runs through June 30, 2007. The latest three-year grant runs through June 30, 2010. IWU must provide matching funds for both grants.

The grants are part of Lilly Endowment's Programs for the Theological Exploration of Vocation, which began five years ago. The initiative was designed to encourage college students to draw on the wisdom of their religious traditions as they make decisions about their futures - and to consider ministry as a career.

A total of 88 colleges and universities throughout the country received support totaling $176.8 million in the first round of grants five years ago. IWU was one of 37 colleges who shared $17.8 million in continuation grants.

"We have been thrilled and delighted at the results so far," said Craig Dykstra, Endowment senior vice president for religion. "These schools have come up with programs that fit their own campuses, and the fruits of these programs are starting to appear."

IWU used the initial $2 million grant to establish 10 programs, most of which have been completed or absorbed into university life. The programs are designed to help students develop a purpose-based approach to their lives and educational experiences.

"We use the term 'life calling' to describe this," said Dr. Bill Millard, executive director of the Center for Life Calling and Leadership. "As part of the Lilly Endowment initiative, we have committed ourselves to create a life-calling discovery process and culture on the IWU campus."

Dr. Millard said revenue from the latest grant will be used to train IWU faculty members on ways to integrate the life-calling process into their individual disciplines.

"Launching these programs, proving their value and building them into the everyday life of the school is hard work and takes time," Mr. Dykstra said. "Therefore, the Endowment offered renewal grants for schools engaged in the first rounds to keep their programs growing while they raise the funds to sustain them over the long term."

Alan Miller is the University Relations Director at Indiana Wesleyan University.