In the late 1970’s many people felt a growing concern about the large amounts of money being donated to evangelical organizations. Their chief concern was about a lack of accountability. In response, rather than proposing new laws, Senator Mark Hatfield challenged key Christian leaders to develop a means of accountability for Christian organizations to police themselves without government interference. Christian leaders began to draft a set of standards. In 1979, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability was formed.

One committee member commented, “The beauty of this effort is that Christian leadership were able to draft standards that were based on Biblical truths found in the Scriptures.” A key Scripture that guided those efforts was 2 Corinthians 8:21, where the Apostle Paul speaks of his own collection for the poor and says, “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.”

ECFA member organizations must meet the Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship, a set of clear guidelines addressing doctrinal statements, effective board governance, financial oversight, regulatory compliance, transparency, compensation setting, and communication with donors.

Wears Valley Ranch became an accredited member of ECFA in 2001. To become a member, the Ranch had to meet the Seven Standards, submit audited financial statements and complete the application process. As part of this process, ECFA sent a representative to the Ranch to conduct an on-site review and to interview key personnel. Every year since, the Ranch has submitted an annual review that includes the audited financial statements, tax return, and responses to a series of questions about our financial practices. The accreditation process required significant effort, but the benefits have been well worth it!

In recent years, ECFA has developed a wide array of educational resources, helping member organizations continue to develop sound board governance and solid accounting procedures. Today, ECFA represents 2,172 accredited ministries, with additional organizations participating as associate members.

Stewardship is the ongoing responsibility of each organization. ECFA membership does not guarantee that an organization is free from fraud. Even so, we at Wears Valley Ranch are grateful for the vision that the original ECFA committee showed in founding such a Christ-centered, excellent accrediting body. We also thank God for the expertise that ECFA continues to provide as we strive for excellence in stewardship of your gifts.

Our staff pray regularly for our donors. We also pray for God’s direction and provision as we seek to serve Him and care for the children He entrusts to us. Throughout the 25-year history of Wears Valley Ranch, we have seen the Lord provide and direct in amazing ways. Thank you for your part in that journey. We hope you will continue to be obedient to the Lord and give as you feel He is leading to “help the least of these.”

Learn more about the ECFA at ECFA.org. Information for this article was taken from ECFA Standards and Commentaries: Enhancing Trust.