Azusa Pacific University’s Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service (IFLS) awarded $600,000 in subgrants to four nonprofit parachurch organizations across California and the U.S. as part of The Cornerstones Initiative: Building Faith Through Service. Funded by a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc, through The Cornerstones Initiative the IFLS aims to impact more than 10,000 young people (ages 13-25) across the nation by fostering a deeper understanding of the relationship between faith, service, and human flourishing.
“Through The Cornerstones Initiative, we are investing in non-profit and ministry partners who are equipping young adults to connect their Christian faith with meaningful acts of service,” said William Whitney, PhD, IFLS executive director. “These subgrants support locally rooted projects that respond to real community and educational needs while helping young adults to reflect on how serving or volunteering strengthens their spiritual growth. We are grateful to Lilly Endowment Inc. for this support and eager to learn alongside our partners as we prepare this next generation to lead with compassion, faith, hope, and love.”
Subgrant recipients include:
- Alpha USA—Carol Stream, IL (3 years)
Alpha USA is expanding its reach by providing accessible digital training and resources to help churches empower young people to lead their own outreach initiatives.
- Southern California Fellowship of Christian Athletes—San Clemente, CA (3 years)
Southern California Fellowship for Christian Athletes focuses on disciplining coaches and athletes to live out their faith as servant leaders on campus and in their communities through biblical resources and mentorship.
- Rescue a Generation—San Bernardino, CA (3 years)
Rescue a Generation works to support at-risk students by providing life coaching and tools for emotional and spiritual growth.
- Urban Youth Workers Institute—Santa Ana, CA (3 years)
Urban Youth Workers Institute is developing a comprehensive training curriculum designed to equip church leaders for asset-based community development and holistic youth discipleship.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.
Since 1899, Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution in the nation, has helped students discover their higher calling to impact the world for Christ. Featuring world-class faculty, an APU education leads to lifelong transformation and eternal impact. APU offers 59 bachelor’s degrees, 34 master’s degrees, 35 certificates and credentials, and 7 doctoral programs to more than 7,000 students at the university’s main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.