Are you in charge of writing reports for your grant? Preparing budgets or requesting extensions? On the following pages you will find resources that have been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. and ATS to help guide you as you administer your Pathways for Tomorrow grant.

We've provided links to samples of grant agreements from the Pathways Phase 2 and 3 grants. There have not been significant changes in 2025. More information on specific guidelines for new 2025 grantees (ISG and LSCG) will be available in Fall 2026.

There is also a quick guide with hints for writing your report for the first time as well as a template for budgets and budget revision requests.

Pathways Complete Reporting and Budget Revision Packet (Sample from Phase 2/3 Grants)
- Pathways Reporting Information
- Pathways Budget Revision, Extension, and Rollover Info Only
Writing Your First Report Hints 2023
In addition, ATS has created a basic template in excel for your financial reporting. This template will need to be customized to match the budget lines in your grant agreement.

The three-part series below was designed for Pathways grants awarded in 2021-2022.

Much of the information will also apply to those grants awarded in 2025.

Writing Your Annual Report (Tito Madrazo) (click/tap)

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Tito Madrazo from Lilly Endowment and Jo Ann Deasy from ATS review all that Pathways for Tomorrow Grantees need to know about writing their annual reports for the first year of their Pathways for Tomorrow grants. Along with some great tips and a review of the information provided in grantees grant agreements, Dr. Madrazo answers common questions offered by Pathways grantees about writing their annual reports.

Jo Ann Deasy (deasy@ats.edu) serves as the Director of the Pathways for Tomorrow Coordination Program at The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Tito Madrazo is Program Director, Religion, at Lilly Endowment Inc. (contact: pathways@lei.org).

Links:

To view the slides from this webinar please visit: https://www.ats.edu/files/galleries/2022-10_writing-your-annual-reports-tito_madrazo.pdf

To view or download a copy of the annual report guidelines please visit: https://atscoa.instructure.com/files/21065

Writing Your Financial Report (Chris Meinzer) (click/tap)

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Webinar for those who are responsible for writing the financial reports for their Pathways for Tomorrow grant or who are interested in learning more about this process. Chris Meinzer, Senior Director and COO of the Association of Theological Schools, provides an overview of the Lilly Endowment Inc. financial reporting process as well as conversation about how the budgeting and audit processes can contribute to the alignment and sustainability of your projects.

For the template referenced please visit:https://www.ats.edu/files/galleries/lilly-webinar-finance-template.xlsx

Introduction: Dr. Jo Ann Deasy, Director of Institutional Initiatives and Student Research, The Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
04:01- Chris Meinzer, Senior Director and COO at ATS on writing your financial report
Q&A
---21:33-What level of detail in expenditures is the Endowment looking for?
---22:25-What kind of supporting documentation will we need to hold for back up to the reports?
---23:57- When should a budget revision be submitted? Before or after annual reporting? ---26:01-If we decide to hire some one rather than outsource for a specific budget line, but the amount allocated has not changed, do we need to submit a budget revision?
---29:09-Are grantees allowed to submit more than one budget revision over the life of the grant?
---30:05-Is a reallocation the same as a revision? ---32:38- Does Lilly prefer us to spend all the money?
---34:09-Can we go to the Lilly Endowment for help?
35:02-Final recommendations-Dr. Jo Ann Deasy & Chris Meinzer
41:39-Closing Prayer-Chris Meinzer

Reporting on Evaluation, Outcomes, and Impact (Susan Weber) (click/tap)

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Annual reports to Lilly Endowment include two sections that focus on the on-going evaluation of your project: 1) Impact and 2) Progress toward Performance Indicators and Outcomes. In this webinar, Susan Weber (sweber@centerforcongregations.org), Director of the Evaluation and Communication Project at the Center for Congregations, shares her wisdom on how the Endowment defines impact and outcomes, how to create a strong evaluation process, and how to report on these key concepts in your first annual report.

Welcome from Doctor Jo Ann Deasy, Director of Institutional Initiatives, The Association of Theological Schools
2:27- Reporting on Evaluations, Outcomes and Impact, Susan Weber, Director of the Evaluation and Communication Project, Center for Congregations
Q&As
---33:52- How many paged is a typical evaluation report?
---36:43- Is it appropriate to use charts in the report that connect activities and impact?
---37:45- Do you have suggestions for quantitative evaluative data collection at this stage?
---41:17- What if as our grant project progresses we uncover new KPIs that were not in our original grant proposal?
42:58- Announcements, Dr. Jo Ann Deasy
45:00-Closing Prayer, Dr. Jo Ann Deasy

Links:

To view the slides from this webinar please visit:

Susan Weber Reporting on Evaluation Slides.pdf

Susan Weber-Theory of Change - Updated 5.24.19.pdf

To view or download a copy of the annual report guidelines please visit: https://atscoa.instructure.com/files/21065

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Please also consult our Frequently Asked Questions for helpful info. If you still have questions, feel free to email us at pathways@ats.edu.

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