10 Years of
Faith & Action
Working together to address poverty at its roots—and build a more just future.
A Decade of Connection.
For 10 years, Christian Theological Seminary’s Faith & Action Project has brought faith leaders, nonprofits, funders, and community partners together to confront poverty at its roots. Through catalytic grants, shared learning, and community-wide conversations, we have helped strengthen local solutions and expand pathways to dignity, stability, and opportunity across Greater Indianapolis.
A Vision Grounded in Faith and Put Into Action
In 2015, poverty had reached crisis levels nationally and in Indianapolis, leaving too many families one setback away from instability. Yet our city was rich in committed faith communities, philanthropic partners, and nonprofit leaders. The opportunity was to connect their strengths through shared strategy and coordinated action.
CTS launched the Faith & Action Project to serve as a connector, convener and catalyst—equipping faith and community leaders with collaborative, data-informed approaches that help individuals and families move toward long-term stability and economic mobility.
A Decade of Shared Impact
Over the past 10 years, the Faith & Action Project has invested in local leadership, promising ideas, and partnerships capable of creating lasting change.
$
1,000,000+
invested in faith communities and nonprofits
50
+
catalytic grants awarded
5,000
+
community members engaged through Faith & Action events
500
+
faith and community leaders equipped with proven strategies
100
+
partner organizations strengthened through collaboration
How Faith Becomes Action
The Faith & Action Project moves ideas into action through a connected cycle of inspiration, learning, and investment.
Create awareness and inspire possibility
At our annual Fall Event, national and local leaders illuminate the realities of poverty, share models that are working, and challenge our community to imagine what is possible. These conversations build common understanding, sustain hope, and inspire bolder action.
Turn learning into practical action
Our Spring Conference brings faith communities, nonprofits, and community leaders together to explore evidence-based practices, share solutions, and strengthen relationships. Participants leave with tools, connections, and ideas they can apply in their own organizations and neighborhoods.
Invest in promising local solutions
Through catalytic program grants, the Faith & Action Project helps organizations amplify, scale, and accelerate work that addresses poverty and its systemic causes. Funding is paired with connection, learning, and strategic support to help strong ideas produce deeper, longer-lasting results.
What a Decade Has Taught Us
The most important lessons of the past 10 years have come through listening—to community partners, faith leaders, researchers, funders, and people with lived experience. Those lessons continue to shape how the Faith & Action Project convenes, partners and invests.
IMPACT REPORT
10 Years of Learning, Partnership and Progress
The Faith & Action Project 10-Year Impact Report looks beyond the numbers to show how investments in leadership, collaboration, and community-led solutions are changing lives. Explore the project’s origins, the lessons that now guide the work, and stories from grantees creating measurable pathways out of poverty.
Impact in Action
Meet the organizations turning bold ideas into measurable progress for individuals, families, and neighborhoods across Indianapolis.
A Network Built for Greater Impact
The Faith & Action Project’s impact belongs to a growing network of congregations, nonprofits, funders, civic leaders, and community partners. Together, they are sharing knowledge, strengthening referrals, building trust, and advancing solutions that no single organization could achieve alone.
Keep the Conversation Moving
The Faith & Action Fall Event brings our community together to understand the forces shaping poverty, hear ideas that are changing lives, and renew our commitment to action. Join faith leaders, nonprofit partners, and neighbors from across Indianapolis for the next conversation.
Faith & Action Fall Event featuring Jason Reynolds
October 27, 2026 | 7:00 pm
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church | Indianapolis, IN
Join us for The Power of Being Seen: How Relationships Create Opportunity for Young People
The Next Decade Starts With You
The next decade requires both urgency and partnership. Poverty intersects housing instability, mental health, education, employment, and systemic barriers that limit opportunity. Progress will depend on leaders who listen closely, learn together, and act with courage.
CTS will build on a decade of experience to equip congregations, nonprofits, and community partners for their next faithful step—from immediate service to lasting, systems-level change. Together, we can strengthen local organizations, deepen collaboration, and help more of our neighbors move from crisis toward stability and flourishing.
Your support makes that work possible. Help us continue convening leaders, investing in community-led solutions, and creating pathways to opportunity for the next generation.
Rise Up for Equity and Justice
For 10 years, The Faith & Action Project has brought people, ideas and resources together to address poverty at its roots. Your gift through the Rise Up campaign supports CTS programs advancing equity and justice—equipping leaders, strengthening community-led solutions and helping build a more just future.
