Applications are due Jan. 21, 2025
These instructions are for VU investigators. VUMC investigators should contact LSO@vanderbilt.edu for more information.
Vanderbilt University may submit only one concept paper to the Lilly Endowment’s National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life (Storytelling Initiative).
Overview
The aim of the Lilly Endowment’s National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life is to unlock and tell compelling stories that portray the vibrancy and hope of Christian faith and life to inspire and help people from a wide variety of backgrounds to come to know and love God.
In this open and competitive initiative, the Endowment invites charitable organizations to submit concept papers that provide initial descriptions of potential projects that advance the following three objectives:
- Identifying stories about Christian individuals, groups, churches and communities that are compelling examples of authentic and vibrant Christian faith and life.
- Producing compelling stories about these examples of Christian faith and life in various media formats.
- Sharing these stories through different media with a wide variety of people in a broad spectrum of contexts and from many different backgrounds.
The Storytelling Initiative will be conducted through a two-stage process:
- Concept Papers
- In the first stage, interested charitable organizations may submit concept papers that explain their interest in the initiative and provide initial descriptions of their potential projects. Concept papers must be submitted through the National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life Online Application Form, which may be found on the Endowment’s website. Concept papers are due by February 24, 2025. The Endowment will review the concept papers and award planning grants of up to $50,000 each to up to 30 organizations that submit the most promising descriptions of potential projects that will advance the Storytelling Initiative’s aim and objectives. The planning grants are intended to assist organizations in developing their concepts and preparing proposals for implementation grants. The Endowment anticipates notifying organizations of planning grant awards in Spring 2025.
- Implementation Grant Proposals
- In the second stage, selected charitable organizations that received planning grants may submit proposals for implementation grants that range up to $5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to execute their plans. Implementation grant proposals are due by August 15, 2025. The Endowment anticipates announcing implementation grant awards in December 2025.
See the solicitation for more information.
Internal Submission Instructions
Interested faculty should visit https://vanderbilt.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1961524 to submit an application for the internal LSO competition and to find additional information about the opportunity. The deadline for the internal competition is Jan. 21, 2025.
Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.
