Registration Open for the 2026 Certificate in Religious Fundraising [Residential Training]
©Mercy by the Sea Retreat and Conference Center
Berkeley Divinity School at Yale is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF) Residential Training, taking place November 3–5, 2026, at Mercy by the Sea Retreat Center in Madison, Connecticut, with an optional early arrival on November 2.
Offered in partnership with the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the program is designed for clergy and other leaders serving faith-based organizations who want to deepen their understanding of the spirituality of fundraising while building practical fundraising skills.
The residential format provides participants with an opportunity to learn alongside peers, engage with expert faculty, and reflect on how fundraising can support and strengthen faithful leadership.
I have seen firsthand how isolated clergy can feel when it comes to the financial dimensions of ministry. It is rarely talked about openly and even more rarely taught well. Our partnership with the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving is changing that. The Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising gives faith leaders a rare and genuinely transformative opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together in a beautiful setting on the Connecticut shore.
Brandon Nappi, Executive Director of Leadership Programs
©Mercy by the Sea Retreat and Conference Center
The program will be led by The Rev’d Nathan Kirkpatrick and Meredith McNabb, both nationally recognized leaders in religious leadership development, philanthropy, and fundraising education.
Religious leaders, clergy, lay leaders, judicatory executives, and development professionals are encouraged to attend.