At the end of June, Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef voluntarily resigned from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. MinistryWatch reached out to Leading The Way for comment but did not receive a response.
Leading The Way’s Donor Confidence Score has dropped to 35, placing it in the “Withhold Giving” category. The ministry also carries a D Transparency Grade for not filing a Form 990 and for revoking its ECFA membership.
Leading The Way, a Christian resource ministry, aims to help people “living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ.”
For the past 35 years, Dr. Youssef has produced podcasts, books, a monthly Christian magazine, and daily e-devotionals “to reach the lost and equip believers in their faith,” while utilizing field ministry teams “to evangelize seekers and disciple new believers.”
Before founding Leading The Way, Dr. Youssef founded and began pastoring The Church of The Apostles in 1987. The congregation has since grown to more than 3,000.
In a recent news release, Dr. Youssef announced plan to transition to full-time ministry with Leading The Way in the summer of 2026. This decision was formally announced at the church’s annual congregational meeting in Atlanta. Leadership of the church will be pass to Dr. Youssef’s youngest son, Dr. Jonathan Youssef.
But with the ministry’s most recent public financial data now six years old, the state of Leading The Way’s financial health is difficult to assess.
Ministries that score below 50 on the Donor Confidence Score receive a “Withhold Giving” recommendation. The Form 990 weighs heavily in that score because it contains information unavailable through other sources. Executive salaries are plainly listed on the Form 990 but are not included in an annual audit. Board member names are also disclosed on the Form 990.
Likewise, ECFA membership signals that a ministry has publicly committed to uphold the organization’s “Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship.” Without that membership, a ministry lacks a key layer of financial accountability.
Leading The Way holds a D Transparency Grade — it posts audited financial statements to its website, but does not file a Form 990 or hold membership with the ECFA.
MinistryWatch Donor Confidence Score: 35 (out of a possible 100) “Withhold Giving”
MinistryWatch Financial Efficiency Rating: This ministry has not been rated because it does not file a Form 990 with the IRS.
MinistryWatch Transparency Grade: D
ECFA Member? No
Revenue in Most Recent Year Available: $19,688,916
Five-Year Revenue Trend: Increasing (by about 20%)
Percent of Revenue Spent on Fundraising: 6%
Percent of Revenue Peer Group Spends on Fundraising: 6%
CEO/President: Dr. Michael Youssef
President’s Salary and Other Compensation: Not provided
A complete MinistryWatch profile for Leading The Way can be found here.
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