Oikos Institute Awarded $175k Grant from Trinity Church Wall Street
The Oikos Institute for Social Impact has been awarded a substantial $175K grant from Trinity Church Wall Street. This grant will support two new in-depth case studies, spotlighting the transformative impact of the Fishing DifferentlyTM model on faith-based anchor institutions.
The new case studies will feature two congregations in under-resourced communities effectively leveraging their assets, including Faith/Financial Capital, Intellectual Capital, Social Capital, Human Capital (F.I.S.H.), and real estate, to create social impact. These case studies will serve as practical examples for learning, offering participants insights into applying concepts in their own contexts, navigating challenges, and identifying opportunities. Selected congregations in cities with Oikos-managed learning cohorts will enrich Oikos’ training program and engage church audiences. Beyond education, the case studies find relevance in seminaries, public administration, philanthropy, business, and professional development programs, aiming to bridge understanding gaps between churches and potential funders/partners across sectors, fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Trinity Church Wall Street’s Philanthropies, Neighborhood Support, and Investments teams are united in their faith-driven commitment to promoting equity and justice. They leverage the tools of philanthropy, their convening power, and their voice to advance the mission goals of building neighborhoods, leadership, and capacity. Guided by the Philanthropies team, their strategic grantmaking is focused on initiatives that include mission real estate development and leadership development. These collective efforts reflect a steadfast dedication to fostering an equitable society, transcending racial determinants, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Trinity Church Wall Street for entrusting us to unveil the transformative stories of two more congregations. Beyond education, these case studies will bridge understanding gaps, fostering collaboration between churches and potential financing for social impact projects.” Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, Co-founder of the Oikos Institute for Social Impact
In 2023, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School commissioned researcher David Kresta to capture Oikos’ impact in a case study on Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church-Morristown.[1] The case study, Feeding the 5,000: Small Churches Delivering Outsized Community Impact, is a testament to any faith-based institution’s impact when it harnesses its assets toward a community solution-minded purpose. The Reverend Dr. Sidney Williams Oikos’ co-founder and author of Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace,[2] pastors Bethel Morristown, the flagship anchor institution of the Fishing Differently™ Model.
“At the Oikos Institute, we deeply appreciate Trinity Church Wall Street, a vital catalyst for our mission in building equitable and thriving communities. We are excited about the possibilities these case studies hold in catalyzing change and grateful for Trinity Church Wall Street’s” partnership. The insights will enhance our training programs but also illuminate paths of possibility for others navigating the intersection of faith, finance, and community development.” the Reverend Dr. Reginald Blount, Co-founder of the Oikos Institute for Social Impact.
[1] Kresta, David E., Ph.D. “Feeding the 5,000: Small Churches Delivering Outsized Community Impact.” Prepared by Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School, 2023.
[2] Williams, Rev. Dr. Sidney, Jr., Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace. Certa Publishing, 2018.
