ECFA: Robb Moser
Genesis to Revelation Bible Blogs
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) is a prominent American accreditation agency that sets financial and governance standards for evangelical Christian nonprofits and churches. Founded in 1979 by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and World Vision, it was created as a self-regulatory response to potential government intervention following religious financial scandals in the 1970s.
Core Standards and Accreditation
To earn the ECFA Seal of Approval, organizations must voluntarily comply with the Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship, which cover:
Doctrinal Issues: Commitment to the evangelical Christian faith.
Governance: Oversight by an independent board of at least five members.
Financial Oversight: Preparation of accurate, CPA-audited or reviewed financial statements.
Use of Resources: Compliance with laws and responsible management of funds.
Transparency: Providing financial information to the public upon request.
Compensation and Related-Party Transactions: Integrity in setting leader pay and avoiding conflicts of interest.
Stewardship in Fundraising: Honoring donor intent and maintaining truthfulness in appeals.
Membership and Impact
Membership: Accredits over 2,700 members, including mega-churches, international ministries, rescue missions, and educational institutions.
Renewal: Members must renew their accreditation annually and undergo periodic “Standards Check-Ins”.
Revenue: Member organizations represent a collective annual revenue of approximately $34 billion (as of 2022).
Recent Developments and Challenges
New “Leader Care” Standard: ECFA recently introduced a standard requiring boards to create care plans for senior leaders to prevent burnout and ensure spiritual health, with full compliance expected by 2027.
High-Profile Departures: In October 2025, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse (both led by Franklin Graham) voluntarily withdrew from the ECFA, citing concerns over the new leader care standards.
Criticism: Some critics, including investigative journalists and outlets like Christianity Today, have argued the ECFA acts more like a trade association than a “watchdog,” citing its dependence on membership fees and instances where it initially defended ministries that later faced major scandals, such as Harvest Bible Chapel and Gospel for Asia.
The organization is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, and led by President Michael Martin.