50 Largest Missions and Bible Translation Organizations

Below is a list of the largest foreign missions and Bible translation organizations in the country.  In addition to the name and revenue, you will also find MinistryWatch’s Financial Efficiency Rating (1 to 5, with 5 being the highest), and the organization’s Transparency Grade and Donor Confidence Score.  You can find more information about the ministries by clicking the ministry’s name.  That will take you directly to the ministry’s profile in the MinistryWatch 1000 database.

The MinistryWatch database has a number of categories that include missions organizations.  We have therefore included Bible translation organizations, missionary organizations, and some evangelism and support organizations.  However, we have not included evangelistic organizations that may operate globally, but are primarily US organizations.  

The size of missions organizations is growing.  Last year, revenue of $11 million would land you on the list.  This year, the smallest organization on the list has nearly $14 million in revenue.

This is the second year we have published this list, so we have also included last year’s ranking on this year’s list.  That is not to suggest that “bigger is better” or that an organization that has risen or fallen has problems.  However, any time we see significant changes in an organization, we think it is important to pause and ask:  why?  

Biggest Movers.  To that end, we note that the biggest mover on the list this year is Biblica, rising from 40 to 23.  Other big movers on this list (those who moved at least five places) are:  Cross International (falling from 2 to 8), TEAM (falling from 13 to 18), International Cooperating Ministries (falling from 19 to 29), One Mission Society (falling from 24 to 37), World Gospel Mission (falling from 27 to 40), Christar (rising from 49 to 41), and Partners International (falling from 33 to 45).

First Timers.  Organizations appearing on the list for the first time this year include:  Mission Of Hope Haiti, Family Legacy Missions International, English Language Institute in China, Glory of Zion International Ministries, Preemptive Love Coalition, YWAM Ships Kona, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, and The Timothy Initiative.

Dropped From List.  Organizations that dropped off the list this year include:  Kids Alive International, E3 Partners Ministry, Iris Global, Biblical Ministries Worldwide, Far East Broadcasting Company, and OC International.

A Word About Timing.  This information comes from the most recent Form 990 available, and the Internal Revenue Service has been in the news lately for its slow processing of Form 990s.  (You can read our story on this subject here.)   For most ministries on this list, the most recent year available was 2020. For a few ministries, the most recent year is 2019 or older.  To read the complete profile of the ministries (and learn which year’s numbers we are using), click on the name of the ministry.  That link will take you to the ministry’s profile in the MinistryWatch database.