MinistryWatch 1000 Database: Shining Light Award Winners

These ministries earn highest ratings in financial efficiency, transparency and donor confidence.

In the MinistryWatch 1000 Database there are 25 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.

“Shining Light” ministries must earn five stars in our Financial Efficiency rating system. The financial efficiency rating takes into account the ministry’s use of resources, including its fundraising, investing, operations, and solvency.

To be a “Shining Light,” a ministry also must receive an “A” Transparency Grade. To earn this, the ministry must file a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service, must be a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and must publicly post its audited financial statements on its website.

Finally, ministries must earn a Donor Confidence Score of 100 based on 20 questions, including matters related to governance, its statement of faith, and its use of nondisclosure agreements.

Because these criteria are so rigorous, only 24 of the 1000+ ministries in our database qualified as “Shining Lights” for 2025. This is a few more than the 18 that qualified last year. They are truly the best of the best when it comes to transparency, accountability, and financial efficiency.

Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.

The “Shining Lights” vary in revenue size, so both large and small ministries can follow MinistryWatch’s principles for accountability and transparency.

The largest “Shining Light” ministry by revenue is Children’s Hunger Fund with over $134 million in revenue. The smallest is Administer Justice with about $1.1 million in revenue.

This year’s list includes 11 ministries that are new “Shining Lights” — Bethesda Mission, Children’s Hunger Fund, Faith Builders Educational Programs, Mission Quest, New International, PastorServe, The For All Mankind Movement, The Mailbox Club, The Neighborhood Christian Clinic, Trail Life USA, and Youth for Christ International.

Some ministries that fell off the list from last year include Atlas Free, Word for the World USA, Heaven’s Family, Ministries of Jesus, and Resourcing Christian Education International.

We hope this list will serve as a guide to you as you approach your year-end giving. Because of their commitment to transparency and accountability, we hope you will support these ministries.

And consider asking ministries you care about to improve their transparency and accountability and become “Shining Light” award winners too.