Program Timetable
ZionSphere Open Doors Program
Submitted to Lilly Endowment Inc. — Exploring Christian Practices Initiative
Grant Period: January 2026 – December 2030
Year 1 — Foundation (2026)
Activity / DeliverableQ1Q2Q3Q4
Hire Program Director (full-time)●○○○
Engage contract curriculum, tech & research support●●○○
Finalize curriculum guide (theological review + field test)●●●○
Develop outcome assessment instruments●●○○
Select & onboard 10 pilot partner organizations○●●○
Hardware procurement & logistics infrastructure●●○○
Administer baseline surveys at pilot sites○○●○
First cohort gatherings (pilot organizations)○○●●
Year 1 impact data compilation○○○●
Lilly Endowment Year 1 progress report○○○●
MILESTONE: 10 partner orgs active · 3–5 states · baseline data collected · curriculum guide finalized
Year 2 — Expansion (2027)
Activity / DeliverableQ1Q2Q3Q4
Expand to 30 partner organizations (20 new sites)●●○○
Launch second VR Scripture experience○○●○
Transition contract roles toward expanded staffing●●○○
Establish regional cohort model (4 regions)●●○○
Preliminary impact data — published summary○○●○
Academic partnership agreements finalized●○○○
Year 2 cohort gatherings (virtual + in-person)○●○●
Lilly Endowment Year 2 progress report○○○●
MILESTONE: 30 partner orgs · 10 states · second experience launched · regional cohorts operational
Year 3 — Deepening (2028)
Activity / DeliverableQ1Q2Q3Q4
Expand to 60 partner organizations (30 new sites)●●○○
Publish first formal impact report○●○○
Develop & pilot train-the-trainer model●●●○
Third VR experience enters production○○●●
Year 3 cohort gatherings + train-the-trainer cohort○●○●
Mid-grant evaluation submitted to Lilly Endowment○○●○
Lilly Endowment Year 3 progress report○○○●
MILESTONE: 60 partner orgs · first impact report published · train-the-trainer model piloted
Year 4 — Maturation (2029)
Activity / DeliverableQ1Q2Q3Q4
Expand to 85 partner organizations (25 new sites)●●○○
Launch earned-revenue licensing tier (well-resourced orgs)●○○○
Third VR experience launched○●○○
Formal sustainability plan developed○●●○
Year 4 cohort gatherings○●○●
Individual major donor cultivation campaign begins○○●●
Lilly Endowment Year 4 progress report○○○●
MILESTONE: 85 partner orgs · 18+ states · earned revenue streams active · sustainability plan initiated
Year 5 — Sustainability (2030–2031)
Activity / DeliverableQ1Q2Q3Q4
Reach 100+ partner organizations●●○○
5,000+ cumulative youth participants documented○●○○
Five-year comprehensive impact study: data collection●●○○
Five-year study written & peer reviewed○○●●
Final Year 5 cohort gatherings○●○●
Earned revenue + diversified grants cover operating costs○○●●
Final grant report submitted to Lilly Endowment○○○●
Phase 2 planning (2031–2035) initiated○○●●
MILESTONE: 100+ partners · 20+ states · 5,000+ youth · five-year impact study published · operational sustainability achieved
Legend: ● Active quarter○ Inactive quarterAll reporting deadlines align with Lilly Endowment's standard grant reporting calendar.