Geneva Benefits Group Receives $1 Million Lilly Endowment Scaling Grant to Expand Ministerial Wellbeing Initiatives

Lawrenceville, GA — Geneva Benefits Group is pleased to announce it has received a $1 million scaling grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. in support of Geneva’s ongoing work to strengthen the wellbeing of pastors and their families across the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The grant is part of Lilly Endowment’s Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders.

This award advances Geneva’s long-standing mission to walk with pastors through every season of ministry by addressing the financial, relational, and vocational pressures that often undermine long-term pastoral health and resilience.

An initial Lilly Endowment grant in 2023 allowed Geneva to launch and pilot several Ministerial Wellbeing initiatives, including the Ministerial Wellbeing Sabbatical Matching Program, updated Compensation Guidelines for Pastors, and Pastoral Cohorts. These early efforts demonstrated both the significant need for structured support and the transformational impact such programs can have on pastors, their families, and their congregations.

The Ministerial Wellbeing Sabbatical Matching Program helps remove financial barriers that prevent pastors from taking extended periods of rest. By matching funds raised by churches, the program encourages thoughtful sabbatical planning and makes rest accessible, especially for pastors serving under-resourced congregations. One participant noted, “The sabbatical gave our congregation a vision for rest—not just for me, but for our whole church. We returned refocused, grounded in our calling, and better equipped for the work ahead.”

The Pastoral Cohorts initiative creates structured, facilitated peer communities where pastors can build trusted relationships, practice rhythms of rest, and share the unique challenges of ministry. Through retreats and regular gatherings, cohorts provide space for honesty, prayer, and mutual support to address the deep isolation many pastors experience. Reflecting on one retreat, a pastor shared, “The time away with this group was a rare space for honesty and care—something I didn’t realize how much I needed. It reminded me that I’m not meant to carry the weight of ministry alone.”

These programs aim to improve pastors’ financial literacy and management skills by providing educational materials and coaching from Geneva’s team of Financial Planners that is tailored to their personal and family needs. Every pastor who participates in Geneva’s programs meets with a Geneva Financial Planner to discuss personal finances, financial education, and their compensation package, and every church meets with a Financial Planner to review their pastor’s compensation package and their financial practices.

Geneva’s Relief Fund (which uses grant proceeds as matching funds for fundraising) provides financial assistance to pastors and their families who are struggling financially due to hardships such as serious injuries, medical bills, or the death of a spouse. The fund also provides low-cost counseling for pastors’ spouses, access to health insurance for pastors between pastoral calls, and help with other financial emergencies. In addition, the Relief Fund application and award process requires recipients to work with our Financial Planners to ensure they are following best practices, creating and following reasonable budgets, and where appropriate, crafting reasonable financial plans. In these ways and more, Geneva is seeking to pair holistic pastoral health with financial literacy.

This new scaling grant will allow Geneva to expand and strengthen these proven initiatives, focusing on broader access for historically under-resourced churches, deeper impact, and long-term sustainability.

Key areas of expansion include:

• Tripling participation in the Sabbatical Matching Program by 2029, with increased access for pastors from under-resourced and non-Anglo-led congregations (approximately 50 pastors per year).
• Growing Pastoral Cohorts to 18–20 groups by 2029, with a total of around 160 participating pastors.
• Recruiting and training new cohort facilitators to remove bottlenecks and sustain expansion.

Beyond direct programming, the $1 million grant will help build lasting infrastructure to support pastors through:

• Technology upgrades, including a new CRM system to improve participant care and program coordination.
• Increased visibility and support for the Ministerial Relief Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance to pastors, retirees, and widows in need.

Rev. Dr. Ed Dunnington, President of Geneva Benefits Group, reflected on the significance of the grant, saying,

“We are deeply grateful to Lilly Endowment for their confidence in this work and continued investment in pastors’ wellbeing. This grant enables us to expand proven programs and extend rest, support, and financial relief to pastors who might otherwise go without. We believe this is a meaningful step toward strengthening pastors for faithful, sustainable ministry over the long haul.”

Through these initiatives, Geneva seeks to equip pastors and churches for holistic health and endurance amid the growing pressures of ministry. By addressing economic strain, fostering rhythms of rest, and cultivating supportive pastoral relationships, Geneva aims to serve the church for generations to come.

Geneva Benefits Group is thankful for Lilly Endowment’s partnership for enabling these crucial programs and looks forward to the ways the Lord may bless this grant to enable deeper, broader care for pastors and their families throughout the PCA.

About Geneva Benefits Group
Geneva Benefits Group is the leading provider of retirement and benefits services for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). With a mission to guide PCA pastors and ministry workers through the complexities of financial planning and employee benefits, Geneva offers a range of services and resources designed to ensure the well-being and long-term flourishing of those serving in ministry. For more information, visit genevabenefits.org.