Here at MinistryWatch, one of our goals is to equip donors with the information they need to make wise decisions with their giving. That’s why we manage our database, which rates more than 1,000 of the country’s largest ministries based on their financial efficiency, financial transparency, and their donor confidence. Each week, we highlight ministries in our database that have had rating changes, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.
Crown Financial Ministries (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 78 to 80)
Makes audited financials available on website, raising both its Transparency Grade and its Donor Confidence Score.
A few notable changes in the database this week:
- Crown Financial Ministries has posted audited financials on its website, prompting a rise in both its Transparency Grade and its Donor Confidence Score. MinistryWatch rates a ministry’s financial transparency based on three things: if it files a Form 990 with the IRS, if it posts audited financials on its website, and if it is a member of the ECFA. Crown now does all these things, earning it an A Transparency Grade.
- The Donor Confidence Score for Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center spiked to a 78 after its financial efficiency rose to three stars, signifying that it is in the top 60% compared with ministries in the Pro-Life sector. That places the ministry within the “Give With Confidence” designation.
- Time to Revive dropped in financial transparency from an A to a D because it no longer files Form 990s with the IRS and it doesn’t post audited financials on its website. For a fuller profile of this ministry and its rating changes, click here.
We also highlight stories from our podcast, where you can catch up on the week’s news in less than 30 minutes—perfect for a commute or walk. We highly recommend ministries join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which is why we list organizations that have either joined ECFA in the past week or been removed. Check it all out below.
With that, here are three top stories on the MinistryWatch website from this past week:
Abuse Lawsuits Pile Up Against Greg Laurie, Harvest Christian Fellowship
By Kim Roberts. The number of lawsuits filed against Harvest Christian Fellowship’s founder Greg Laurie—related to alleged abuse of young men at a children’s home in Romania—now stands at 12. The original lawsuit was filed in September by two men claiming that Paul Havsgaard abused them at a children’s shelter in Bucharest, Romania.
Gateway’s Insurer Argues It’s Not Liable in Clemishire Case
By Kim Roberts. The insurance company for Gateway Church has filed an action in federal court seeking a declaration that it is not required to defend nor indemnify the church in the civil lawsuit brought by Cindy Clemishire related to sexual abuse committed against her by Robert Morris.
Editor’s Notebook: Understanding MinistryWatch’s Donor Confidence Score
By Warren Cole Smith. There are many ways to evaluate a sports team, a corporation, even a rock band or dance company. Is the most successful organization the one that makes the most money, has a winning record, does the most good for the community, produces a high-quality product, or achieves artistic excellence? And even if you could decide which measurements mattered, it is not always easy to quantify the results.
Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,000 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $44-billion in total revenue, most of that donor revenue from evangelicals. The following ministries have their profiles updated with the most recent year’s financial data. The Financial Efficiency rating of each ministry is in parenthesis. If this rating represents a change from the previous year, that change is noted:
Ministries recently added to the database:
Legacy Coalition (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
Charlotte Lozier Institute (Up 0 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: N/A to 45)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector.
Crown Financial Ministries (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 78 to 80)
Makes audited financials available on website, raising both its Transparency Grade and its Donor Confidence Score.
Good News Jail and Prison Ministries (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 53 to 55)
Makes audited financials available on website.
Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 58 to 78)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Christian Worship Hour (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 55)
Does not file Form 990 with the IRS.
Communitas International (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 55 to 53)
CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of the median compensation.
Desiring God / John Piper (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 85)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.
Dynamic Youth Ministries (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 95 to 93)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Free Lutheran Theological Seminary Corporation (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 100 to 98)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
International Students (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 55)
Does not file Form 990 with the IRS.
Manhattan Christian College (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to D, DCS: Down 55 to 51)
Does not file a Form 990 with the IRS, nor does it make audited financials available on its website. Also, its CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of the median compensation.
Paul Anderson Youth Home Inc. (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 45)
Does not file Form 990 with the IRS.
Selah Freedom (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Anti-Trafficking sector.
Shared Hope International (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Anti-Trafficking sector.
Time to Revive (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to D, DCS: 53)
Does not file a Form 990 with the IRS, nor does it make audited financials available on its website.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
DOJ Sues Life Surge, Lawsuits Against Greg Laurie and Harvest, Missionary Plane Crash Report
On this week’s program, the Department of Justice is suing the founder of Life Surge, Joe Johnson, for his alleged part in a scheme to cheat the government out of over $46 million in taxes through abusive bargain sale transactions. We’ll take a look.
And, a new report reveals the final moments of missionaries Alex and Serena Wurm before their plane crashed on a trip to deliver aid to Jamaica. We’ll have details.
Plus, two reports that detail reasons for cautious optimism. One shows that the decline of religion in America has stalled. Another, that Christian giving in America is on the rebound.
But first, abuse lawsuits are piling up against Pastor Greg Laurie and his Harvest Christian Fellowship, bringing the total number of lawsuits to 12.
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ECFA Membership Changes
Additions
Set Free Monterey Bay (Monterey, CA)
GenerousChurch (Brandon, MS)
Forerunner Mentoring (Dallas, TX)
Rock Harbor Church (Costa Mesa, CA)
Collins Home Family Ministries (Seneca, SC)
Removals
Love Cradle USA (Souderton, PA)
Calvary Baptist Church (New York, NY)
Winter Park Christian Church (Tabernash, CO)
Grand County Christian Academy (Tabernash, CO)
Drop A Dime On Us. Do you have a story idea for MinistryWatch? If so, send us an email. A lot of the stories we do originate from our readers and listeners. They send us news tips, press releases, emails, questions, and links. So, if you have a story you’d like us to cover, or a ministry that you think needs a closer look, please email us. Our email is info@ministrywatch.com. That will come directly to the desk of MinistryWatch President Warren Smith, and we’ll take it from there.
MinistryWatch and Sex Crimes. We write a lot about pastors and ministry leaders involved in sex crimes. That’s why we thought it might be a good time to re-post this story, which explains why we think covering these crimes are necessary: Why MinistryWatch Reports on Sex Crimes. As always, your feedback is welcome.
MinistryWatch Video. In closing, a reminder that we have created a short (3.5 minutes) video that explains what we do here at MinistryWatch, and why. If you’re new to MinistryWatch, we hope you’ll check it out. To find it, click here.