Fuller Seminary Receives $258,699 Grant for Spirituality Podcast Series

Fuller Theological Seminary’s Thrive Center for Human Development has secured a one-year grant exceeding a quarter-million dollars to support its “With & For” podcast series. The $258,699 award from the John Templeton Foundation, announced on April 14 will fund a 14-episode season exploring the science of spirituality and its role in personal and community thriving.

“In an era when there is so much external chaos and divisions added to the internal stress and distress of so many, the With & For podcast is a resource that can help many to find inspiration and insights for ‘walking the balance,'” said Fuller President David Emmanuel Goatley. “We rejoice in the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation and their confidence in the work of Dr. Pam King and the Thrive Center at Fuller Seminary.”

The Thrive Center was among a select group of 125 organizations invited to submit a full grant proposal, having survived an initial round of 3,109 applications from 120 countries collectively seeking more than $2.3 billion.

The podcast, hosted by Thrive Executive Director Pam King, will focus on three key activities: producing content on the science of spirituality and thriving; expanding and deepening the reach and impact of the podcast through public relations, marketing, and community engagement; and connecting with thought, practitioner, and spiritually engaged leaders to understand more deeply how their communities thrive and grow spiritual health.

This funding arrives at a critical moment when cultivating and embracing healthy forms of spirituality are increasingly recognized as essential components of individual well-being and community flourishing.

Fuller Seminary, headquartered in Pasadena, California, is one of the world’s largest nondenominational seminaries with over 2,600 students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Students can attend classes online, in person at campuses in Pasadena, Houston, and Phoenix, or through hybrid arrangements.

The John Templeton Foundation, established in 1987, supports interdisciplinary research and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe and wonder. The Foundation works to create a world where people are curious about the wonders of the universe, free to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and motivated by great and selfless love.

With an endowment of $3.4 billion and annual giving of approximately $140 million, it ranks among the 25 largest grantmaking foundations in the United States and has extended its philanthropic activities to more than 58 countries worldwide.