Together, we triumph!
That is an exciting phrase—an attractive concept. But what does it mean? What really is the value of ECFA membership for your church or ministry?
We're glad you asked.
Very simply, ECFA's mission is to enhance trust in Christ-centered churches and ministries. When your organization earns the right to display the ECFA seal, you join a community dedicated to accountability, integrity, and responsible governance.
Actions speak louder than words—especially in today's world—so by doing the work to achieve and annually maintain your ECFA accreditation, you are telling your constituents, donors, and a watching world that you are committed to upholding trust. You are intentionally pursuing a path that leads to triumph for your mission—the unique way God has called you to love and bless the world.
Consider for a moment the FOUNDATION and the FRUIT of your ECFA membership.
THE FOUNDATION
The Christian leaders who founded ECFA wanted to catalyze an overarching Christian ministry environment of cooperation, mutual respect, and trust. Together, they and their successors developed and refined Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™, which are rooted in Scripture and set an extremely high bar for accountability, transparency, and governance. These standards are not legalistic demands for perfection, but they are guardrails meant to ensure churches and ministries are taking practical steps to uphold biblical principles of integrity.
Our approach is straightforward and clear. An organization earns the right to display the ECFA seal, or it does not. If a church or ministry voluntarily pursues and successfully attains ECFA accreditation, then that organization has effectively demonstrated its commitment to upholding ministry integrity by complying with each of ECFA's standards. These bold, biblical standards build trust and seed the ground for life-transforming ministries to triumph.
THE FRUIT
As an ECFA-accredited member organization, you earn the right to display ECFA's seal—the gold standard for many donors and other fellow believers seeking accountable organizations that share their Christian values.
With that seal comes many benefits. You can look forward to:
Accountability
At its core, ECFA benefits members with peer accountability. Even though our membership includes a full spectrum of churches and ministries with significantly different work according to their specific callings, all are linked by a common proclamation that "Jesus is Lord!" Our redemptive—not legalistic—focus on accountability is vital as we all pursue Christ's renown to advance His Kingdom through our work. It is a biblical demonstration of the Church caring for its own in a spirit of compassion, humility, and mutual edification. (On this note, you may be interested to read "Why Does ECFA Not Rate Ministries")
Credibility
Membership in ECFA benefits your reputation. Our name and commitment to accountability are recognized and respected by leaders in the broader nonprofit community. Moreover, the ECFA seal is the gold standard for prospective donors seeking Christ-centered organizations that operate with integrity. In fact, data in our annual State of Giving reports show ECFA-member giving rates regularly outpace those of charities in the larger U.S. nonprofit sector.
Credible organizations—those that are trustworthy and effective—clearly define their mission and show evidence of success through periodic reports and financial openness. We help our accredited members maintain such high standards and stand out for their commitment. Indeed, the public frequently contacts ECFA to verify organizations' membership and to review their profiles. We also provide GiverConnect™ as one way donors can quickly and easily find giving opportunities with ECFA-accredited ministries they can trust.
Advocacy
ECFA helps preserve freedom and promotes flourishing for all churches and ministries. For example, we support our community by winsomely engaging the press. Whenever news breaks in the ministry world—regardless of whether an organization in question is an ECFA member—media outlets large and small often consult with ECFA.
Moreover, although we are not a lobbying or trade organization, ECFA is attentive to developments in Washington, DC, state capitals, and the courts on charitable giving, tax exemption, and other matters related to finances, operations, and trust in the faith-based community. In addition to informing our members about notable developments, we, as a reputable accreditation body, are a respected voice in the public square and frequently spearhead or partner in coalitions influencing proceedings in executive, legislative, and judicial halls of power on behalf of our members.
Equipping
As an ECFA member, you can know you are not alone. We don't just offer you the ECFA seal and walk away until it's time for accreditation renewal. We prioritize ongoing support for members through trust-building educational resources, tax guides, webinars, survey findings, and public policy services. In fact, all staff at accredited churches and nonprofits have unlimited access to our vast library of resources to help you excel in board governance, leader care, fundraising, financial management, and much more. Our team of experienced, professional staff with accounting, finance, and law credentials want to be by your side so you can focus on reaching the world for Christ.
No matter what triumph looks like for your organization, ECFA is an invaluable partner in your journey. We want to help you maintain a healthy and trusted reputation so that you can effectively reach the world for Christ.
Hurt and hopelessness cannot win. Let ECFA partner alongside you.
Because together, we triumph.