William Jessup University Jumps Into Top 40% for Financial Efficiency

And other notable ministry happenings from this week.

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:

• William Jessup University jumped from 1 Star to 4 Stars after its latest Form 990s processed through the MinistryWatch database, meaning it went from being in the bottom 20% for financial efficiency in the Colleges/Universities sector to being in the top 40%. That also raised its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points, earning it a 98 out of 100.
• Two ministries have a negative net worth based on their most recent Form 990s, dropping them from 3 Stars each to zero. Because we were not able to assign them Financial Efficiency Ratings due to their negative net worths, Set Free Alliance and TreeHouse also dropped 20 points each in their Donor Confidence Scores.
• According to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability website, Grace Community Church in Greensboro, South Carolina, resigned from the ECFA on April 22.

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 this week’s three top stories on the MinistryWatch website:

Texas Baptists to Study Relationship With Baylor University

By Kendall Lyons, Faith Pratt, and Eric Black with the Baptist Standard. In an advisory sent to Texas Baptists the afternoon of April 17, Texas Baptists Executive Director Julio Guarneri said the convention will study its relationship with Baylor University following concerns over recent campus events.

Bethel Church Announces Third-Party Investigation and Safe Church Platform

By Kim Roberts.  Bethel Church in Redding, Calif., announced in early April that it would hire a third-party investigator to look into clergy sexual abuse allegations against Ben Armstrong.

Flipcause Leaves Charities With Big Donation Losses

By Kim Roberts. Equal Rights Institute is one of many nonprofits left without donated money after the once-trusted Flipcause collapsed while owing $29 million in donations to its users.

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.

Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.

MinistryWatch Database Changes

MinistryWatch now has more than 1,300 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:

New Life Center / Fargo Union Mission (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 80 to 100)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Point University (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Remember Nhu (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.

Seattle Pacific University (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 55)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Summit Ministries (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.

The Wilds Christian Association (Up N/A to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 69)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.

West Dallas Community School (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 70 to 90)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

William Carey University (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 46)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

William Jessup University (Up 1 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 78 to 98)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Yakima Union Gospel Mission (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 96)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Montana Rescue Mission (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

Palm Beach Atlantic University (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 71 to 51)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Set Free Alliance (formerly known as Water of Life) (Down 3 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 80)

Ministry has a negative net worth, making it impossible to assign it a valid financial efficiency rating, also affecting its Donor Confidence Score.

The Pocket Testament League (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 93 to 73)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

The Voice of the Martyrs / VOM (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 51)

Does not file a Form 990 with the IRS.

TreeHouse (Down 3 to N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 89 to 69)

Ministry has a negative net worth, making it impossible to assign it a valid financial efficiency rating, also affecting its Donor Confidence Score.

UnfoldingWord (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 80)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Bethel Church, Flipcase Fails, ACNA Trial Date Set, Evangelical Giving Levels Out

On this week’s program, Bethel Church commissions a third-party investigation into clergy sexual abuse allegations against the church’s Prophetic Ministry Director Ben Armstrong. We’ll have details.

Plus, charities were left with major donation losses when the fundraising platform Flipcase declared bankruptcy—while owing charity groups over $29 million. We’ll take a look.

And, a new report shows that evangelical giving has leveled out after a steep decline. The report also tracked online giving and spiritual engagement.

But first, recent events at Baylor University have sparked concern from Texas Baptists.

Listen here.

ECFA Membership Changes

Removals

Grace Community Church (Greensboro, NC)

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 [email protected].  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.