In an effort to help reverse a decades-long decline in the number of top students entering seminaries, the Lilly Endowment invited colleges to compete for grants to be used for three related purposes: (1) to help students explore the relationship between faith and work; (2) to encourage talented students to consider entering Christian ministry; and (3) to prepare the faculty and staff members to help students think about work in new ways. Between 2000 and 2007, the group gave a total of $176.2-million to 88 church-related colleges. As a result, a number of grant-receiving colleges have seen more of their top students go straight into seminaries. This article reports on the efforts of Lilly and the Fund for Theological Education, an organization that gives fellowships to young church leaders and coordinated the Lilly grants, which increased top students' interest in the ministry. An influx of academically talented students straight from college would change the makeup of most seminaries. Lately, seminaries have begun to see an increase in students in their 20s. Naturally, Lilly and the colleges that received grants take some credit for the change, but they also say the current generation of students was inclined to seize the opportunities that were offered.