Lilly Grant

The Presbytery of Plains and Peaks has applied for a Lilly Grant to create a program for young adults called Thrive. It will be a year-long, semi-monastic community housed at Highlands Camp intended to ground young people in Christian practices and rhythms of life that will equip them to thrive in the next chapter of their lives. Lilly will announce grant recipients in December.

The Presbytery and Highlands Camp hope to launch an 18-week pilot program for this endeavor this fall.

The Thrive Threshold Year Program Pilot Project represents a timely and faithful opportunity for churches to help create intentional space for young adults to explore vocation, deepen spiritual formation, and engage in meaningful service within our congregations and communities. At a moment when many young people are searching for purpose and belonging, Thrive offers a structured, relational pathway that connects faith with lived experience—cultivating leaders not only for the church, but for the world.

The Presbytery of Plains and Peaks has generously committed $30,000 of matching funds to develop this Pilot Program. We are requesting funds from churches, individuals, foundations, and other sources who share the vision of Thrive and want to support this program to raise the remaining $30,000 needed to fund the pilot.  

This shared investment reflects our collective calling—to nurture faith, cultivate purpose, and create pathways for emerging leaders to grow within the life of the church.

We invite you to prayerfully consider making a financial gift to support Thrive. Your contribution will help provide stipends for participants, fund spiritual formation experiences, and sustain the relational and administrative infrastructure needed for a meaningful and transformative year. Whether as an individual donor or as a congregation, your generosity becomes a direct expression of belief in the next generation—a tangible way to say, “You belong here, and your calling matters.”

This is more than a fundraising effort; it is a shared act of hope. Together, we can shape a program that not only forms young adults but also renews and energizes our congregations through their presence and leadership. We ask you to join us in bringing Thrive to life through your support, trusting that God will multiply these gifts into lasting impact for the church and the world. You may make a financial gift to Thrive by sending a check to the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks, 831 College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524, indicating a gift to Thrive.  

Also, if you or someone you know might be interested in applying for the Thrive Gap Year Program, the application is attached (link) and it may be sent to Amy Morgan. Her email is amy.thrivethreshold@gmail.com.

Thrive Application