ECFA is committed to serving its members and helping them make a public statement about their own commitment to Christian ethics, financial accountability and managerial excellence. By conducting random field reviews of members and requiring annual membership reviews, ECFA strives to ensure continued compliance with the ECFA Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™ and give significance and value to ECFA membership. The benefits and services of ECFA membership are designed to present a positive testimony of Christian stewardship before a watching world. In an effort to enhance the trust placed in evangelical ministries by the donor public, the following services and benefits of ECFA accreditation are provided:
The ECFA Seal
Quite possibly the best recognized and most tangible benefit of ECFA membership is the right to display the ECFA seal on letterhead, fundraising appeals, newsletters, or other published literature to each member’s constituency and the public. This represents ECFA’s "seal of approval" for its member organizations and is intended to communicate to the public that the organization displaying the seal has been found in full compliance with ECFA’s Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™.
Member organizations are strongly encouraged to display the ECFA seal in as many ways as possible. The member seal (or charter seal) is available by email or on CD in PC and Mac compatible formats for use in printing the ECFA seal directly on member publications.
FOCUS on Accountability Newsletter
ECFA publishes a newsletter, FOCUS on Accountability, to keep members apprised of any new developments or commentaries to the ECFA Standards and any policy decisions of the ECFA Board of Directors, as well as up-to-date legislative, postal, administrative and promotional matters of common concern to the membership. Articles in FOCUS on Accountability are designed to assist members in maintaining full compliance with the ECFA Standards.
ECFA Imprinted Brochures
ECFA has designed brochures which are available to members for use as inserts with any fundraising or other written communications to their constituencies. The brochures are designed to have the logo of the member organization imprinted on the front of each brochure.
The purpose of the imprinted brochures is to help ECFA members communicate to the public what it means to be approved by ECFA, as well as the member organization’s commitment to maintain the highest standards of financial integrity and Christian ethics.
Member organizations interested in ordering imprinted brochures should complete an order form and submit it to ECFA with a copy of the organization’s logo by email or on disk. The brochures are then printed and shipped directly to the member organization.
ECFA Member Profile
As a service not only to members but also to donors, ECFA provides a member profile on each of its member organizations. The member profile includes the following information about each individual member: organization name and address, donor contact person, chief executive officer, a brief description of the programs and ministry of the organization, and limited financial information. The financial information is provided in the following categories — total income, total donated income, total program services expenses, total general and administrative expenses, and fundraising expenses. The financial figures are derived from the most recent audited financial statements of the member organization.
The member profile is offered in response to any public inquiry regarding an ECFA member organization. This is one way that ECFA publicizes its membership and encourages giving. Member profiles may also be viewed on the ECFA website at www.ecfa.org.
ECFA Member List
Since the membership changes frequently with members regularly being added and deleted, the most current listing of the membership is located on the ECFA website at www.ecfa.org.
Radio PSAs
With the cooperation of Christian radio stations across the nation, ECFA from time to time sponsors thirty- and sixty-second radio spots that give information about ECFA and what it means when a Christian ministry has earned the right to display the ECFA "seal of approval."
The radio spots are geared towards donors and have resulted in increased public awareness of ECFA and the significance of ECFA membership. Since all inquirers who request it are sent a Giver’s Guide and directed to the website membership listing, this service further highlights ECFA member organizations and their public testimony of accountability.
Representation to the Media
In this era of increased scrutiny of nonprofit organizations, ECFA is often called upon to describe its Standards for membership and its procedures for monitoring the compliance of its member organizations. The ECFA President is often interviewed by reporters and others seeking to provide guidance to the public at large in the area of charitable giving, as well as obtain information about specific ECFA member organizations. ECFA and its Standards have been mentioned over the years in such well-known publications as The Reader’s Digest, TIME Magazine, Newsweek, Money Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, Christianity Today, Charisma, and World Magazine.
Representation to the Public
ECFA takes every opportunity to delineate the ECFA Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™ and publicize the organizations that have been approved for membership. This takes many forms, from answering questions from the donor public through telephone calls and letters to representing member organizations at conferences, conventions and workshops. ECFA stands ready to assure the donor public concerning those organizations that submit to the continuing ECFA accreditation process and are committed to the highest standards of financial integrity and Christian ethics.
Toll-Free 800 Number
In an effort to provide continuing service to both the donor public and its member organizations, ECFA provides a toll-free number. This has increased inquiries from the public in recent years, as well as provided members with free access to the ECFA office to obtain assistance with ECFA-related issues. The number is 800-3BE-WISE (or 800-323-9473).
ECFA Regional Workshops
Especially designed for Christian nonprofit leaders, financial managers, fundraisers, and board members, ECFA conducts periodic, one-day workshops which provide information on current legislative, management, and accounting issues related to the nonprofit sector. Highly-qualified speakers approach topics of great interest with expertise and authority. Some of these topics embrace tax issues, state regulations, and contributions, to mention a few. Locations for these workshops are selected to attract as many individuals from member organizations as possible.
Website Listing
ECFA provides a complete listing of its membership (as well as subsidiaries of each member) on the Internet. The donor public may find out if a particular organization is a member of ECFA by accessing www.ecfa.org. ECFA’s website also allows an individual to find ECFA members in a certain category listing; i.e., by typing in "child sponsorship."
ECFA members may also use the ECFA member seal on their website as a clickable link to ECFA’s home page or their member profile.