Hood Theological Seminary has received a $500,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to create a fundraising initiative rooted in its historic ties to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

The three-year project will focus on strengthening the seminary’s strategic fundraising capacity with new staff, technological improvements and innovative programs for alumni and congregations connected to the seminary.

“This unique grant provides an outstanding pathway for Hood Theological Seminary to realign and solidify fundraising efforts, enhance staffing resources and modernize structures to more effectively gain resources to train ministerial leadership for ministry in a global society,” said Hood’s new president, Dr. Vergel L. Lattimore. “Lilly Endowment has a distinguished record of supportive commitment to religious scholarship and transformative theological education.”

The seminary will hire additional leadership staff in development and alumni relations, develop a strategic plan in fundraising, upgrade the seminary’s website and expand the administrative management software program. In addition, the grant will help the seminary present programs for alumni and the board of trustees to support their unique roles as fundraisers for the school. These effort will include the “All Hood Alumni Reunion Symposium and Celebration” and a retreat for trustees.

“This grant is significant and timely because it enables the seminary to re-calibrate its position as a freestanding institution and to build the infrastructure to foster annual giving,” Lattimore said.

Ultimately, the grant will result in an enlarged development and alumni relations staff, a measurable fundraising plan, increased annual giving, the creation of new alumni chapters, the addition of new donors to the seminary, the creation of a formal orientation program for new alumni, and the initiation of quarterly alumni-focused webinars.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation.