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.
A few notable changes in the database this week:
- What Matter Ministries & Missions and Your Move Collective are among ministries who dropped to 0 stars in the MinistryWatch database after failing to file Form 990s with the IRS. MinistryWatch’s stance is that ministries should file Form 990s—even if they are registered as a “church” or “association of churches” with the IRS—as a method of transparency and accountability.
- The Donor Confidence Score for Youth for Christ USA spiked to a high 95 after its financial efficiency rose to three stars, signifying that it is in the top 60% compared with ministries in the Fellowship Evangelism sector.
- Youth Dynamics dropped slightly in financial efficiency ratings, but still earns high scores across the three metrics MinistryWatch tracks—financial efficiency, financial transparency, and donor confidence. To learn more about how we determine rankings, click on the links above.
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:
By Stacey Horton. Longtime Christian sketch-comedy and drama ministry The Skit Guys has officially ended after nearly 30 years following the abrupt departure of co-founder Eddie James, who stepped down due to what the group described only as a “moral failure.”
MinistryWatch 1000 Database: Shining Light Award Winners
By Kim Roberts. In the MinistryWatch 1000 Database there are 24 ministries that qualify as what we call “Shining Lights.” According to Matthew 5:16, Christians are to “let our lights shine so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.” We believe these ministries do just that. To qualify as a MinistryWatch “Shining Light,” a ministry must have earned the top scores in three categories: financial efficiency, transparency, and donor confidence.
AZ Church to Resume Food Distribution Ministry After Settling Lawsuit
By Kim Roberts. A church that has been prevented from its benevolent food distribution in San Luis, Arizona, for two years can resume its ministry to those in need. According to a press release by First Liberty, a public interest law firm defending religious freedom, Gethsemani Baptist Church and the City of San Luis have reached a settlement that will allow the church to continue its feeding ministry.
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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 with upgraded ratings:
Urban Youth Impact (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 77 to 97)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Western Christian Schools (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
With God All Things Are Possible / ATP Ministries (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
Youth for Christ USA, Inc. (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 75 to 95)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in the Fellowship Evangelism sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
United Bible Societies (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector.
Village Missions (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 55 to 53)
Donor confidence score dropped by 2 points because CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of the median compensation.
What Matters Ministries and Missions (Down 5 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 72 to 52)
Financial efficiency dropped to zero stars because it does not file a Form 990 with the IRS, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
With Open Eyes Foundation (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 63)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.
Your Move Collective (Down 5 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 68 to 48)
Financial efficiency dropped to zero stars because it does not file a Form 990 with the IRS, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Youth Dynamics (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 80)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
ECFA Membership Changes
Additions
LIFE Outreach International Association of Churches (Fort Worth, TX)
Removals
Grace Based Families (Phoenix, AZ)
Hope Pregnancy Centers (Killeen, TX)
Heart2Heart Outreach of South Florida (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Truth At Work (Indianapolis, IN)
Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, TX)
The Mission Of Winter Haven (Winter Haven, FL)
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.