Choosing a Nonprofit

We are frequently asked which ministries and organizations are financially trustworthy. In an effort to help people determine which organizations to support we have put together the following list of questions that will reveal the integrity and professionalism of an organization.

• Is the organization a member of ECFA or another financial accrediting organization?
• What is the breakdown of expenditure within the organization? How will your donation be used?
• What kind of accountability does the organization have set up? Is there an independent board that oversees the organization and/or a source of external accountability that the organization voluntarily joins?
• Is the organization audited annually by certified public accountants?
• Does the organization have a policy of openness? (i.e. allow you to come visit the office/sites, allow you to see financial records, etc.)
• Is the organization willing to answer difficult questions?
• Can you give to a specific area within the organization or do they only take general donations?
• Does this ministry match your passions and touch you personally?
• What sets this organization apart from the thousands of others seeking your donation?

The ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) is an external accountability group that offers a list of resources that can help an individual discern the financial integrity of an organization. These resources are located on the “Wise Giving” part of their website, and include the following articles:

• Six Things Every Giver Should Know
• Donor’s Bill of Rights
• Good Charities Willingly Answer Tough Questions
• Choosing a Ministry to Support
• Charitable Giving Guidelines
• ServantMatch^®
• ECFA Member Directory