August 5, 2025 — Community of Hope International (COHI) is grateful to share some good news: We have received a generous grant from Trinity Church, an Episcopal parish in New York City. This funding will enhance our ability to train lay leaders in faith-anchored skills for pastoral care, ministry sustainability, and community outreach.
This grant is part of Trinity Church’s Spring 2025 Community Grants, a $16.3 million initiative supporting organizations that help people feel seen, safe, and supported. COHI is honored to be part of this caring community of changemakers.
“The decline in ordained clergy, compounded by leader burnout and shifting ministry dynamics, has increased the need for skilled lay leaders to provide pastoral care and spiritual support,” said Sarah Roberts, Board President of Community of Hope International. “This support from Trinity Church allows us to fill this gap by equipping lay leaders with a spiritually grounded framework for leadership to meet pastoral care needs in diverse contexts.”
With this funding, COHI will launch a new effort called Embracing Change: Rooted & Resilient. It’s a way of helping the Church grow strong by preparing lay leaders (those who aren’t ordained but feel called to care) to walk alongside others through life’s joys and struggles. This is especially important now, as fewer clergy are available and many communities are in need of support.
With Trinity’s support, Embracing Change: Rooted & Resilient will focus on three core strategies between 2025 and 2028:
Staff and Consultant Engagement: Expand organizational capacity by strengthening partnerships, diversifying revenue, and improving program engagement.
Curriculum and Digital Development: Create accessible training resources - including videos, digital guides, and multilingual content - with new modules addressing areas like addiction, divorce, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and cultural competency.
Infrastructure and Governance Strengthening: Deepen board expertise, improve governance practices, and develop regional support networks to ensure sustainable growth.
By 2028, we hope to welcome 100 new centers into our network, train 1,200 more caregivers, and reach thousands of neighbors across the country with encouragement, grace, and hope.
This is all part of COHI’s long-standing mission: Creating communities steeped in Benedictine spirituality, to serve others through compassionate listening.
To read more about Trinity Church’s 2025 grants, visit: https://trinitychurchnyc.org/stories-news/trinity-church-awards-163-million-community-grants-spring-2025-distribution
To learn more about Community of Hope International, visit: cohi.org
About Community of Hope International
Community of Hope International creates communities rooted in Benedictine spirituality, training lay leaders to serve through compassionate listening and presence. Guided by a vision of being a listening presence in the world, COHI helps individuals embody spiritual care in everyday life.
About Trinity Church
Trinity Church is an Episcopal parish in New York City, founded in 1697. Dedicated to justice, mercy, and belonging, Trinity supports worship, education, and philanthropic partnerships with organizations serving people most in need, both locally and globally.